2025 Space Situational Awareness and Spaceflight Safety Graduate Intern

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

Space Situational Awareness and Spaceflight Safety Graduate Intern

Job Summary

As a part of the Space Situational Awareness and Spaceflight Safety Team, you will be providing technical capabilities to support our customers in space situational awareness and flight safety. You will contribute to multiple focus areas of the department, which include space domain awareness (SDA), SDA data management, space object tracking and cataloguing, space debris analysis, space traffic management, radio-frequency interference, and laser deconfliction. Our real-time operations support performs launch and on-orbit collision risk assessments, on-orbit breakup event evaluation, and deorbit/reentry analysis.

Work Model

This position will require onsite support for a minimum of 3 days in either El Segundo, CA, Chantilly, VA, or Colorado Springs, CO with partial remote work options.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Contribute to one or more of the focus areas of support listed above
• Apply and develop analysis tools and techniques as necessary
• Work routinely with department staff as part of the project team(s)
• Tasking will vary during the internship and may include multiple, simultaneous projects
• Training and mentorship will be provided

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Currently enrolled fulltime in an accredited college/university program pursuing a (Master's or PhD) in Aerospace Engineering,  Physics, Mathematics or related technical discipline
• Availability to work full-time for a minimum of 10 weeks outside of university term and ability to return to a degree program full-time after completion of the internship.
• Aptitude in astrodynamics and related mathematics
• Skills in the development and use of computer software tools
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Transcripts are required for this position

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Direct experience in department areas of support mentioned above
• Experience with Python, C, Fortran, and/or High Performance Computing environments
• Expertise in leadership, team coordination and/or mentorship
• Current and active Top-Secret Clearance (TS) with SCI access

Temporary housing assistance is not available.

The Aerospace Corporation is a proud member of Space Workforce 2030, a growing coalition of leading space companies committed to collaboratively working toward a shared vision of expanding and diversifying opportunities for talent to join the exciting space industry. As part of this commitment, the Space Workforce 2030 companies have pledged to increase the number of females, diverse employees, and interns with a goal to hire at least 3,000 interns by the summer of 2030. Click here to learn more and register for the National Space Intern program. 

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business.  The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below.  Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. 

(Min - Max)

$32.00 - $48.00

Pay Basis: Hourly

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change   
• Engage with Impact   
• Foster Innovation   
• Deliver Results  

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type.  A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

• Flexible spending accounts

• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

• Relocation assistance

• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

• Education assistance programs

• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.