2025 Digital Systems Engineering 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.

The Aerospace Corporation is hiring a Digital Systems Engineering Graduate Intern.

The Systems Engineering Division (SED) provides unmatched experience in systems engineering to the U.S. government and to numerous public and private agencies, universities, nonprofit organizations, consortia, and commercial companies involved in the advanced application of space technology. From systems architecture development to system analysis and optimization, astrodynamics, orbital debris, navigation, failure analysis, mission assurance, cost and schedule assessment, and economic market analysis, SED exploits an incredibly broad array of engineering and business disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs and national challenges. 

Systems engineers are increasingly relying on digital system models to define the structure and behavior of their systems rather than using traditional static documents. In the not-too-distant future, all systems engineers will capture and communicate their engineering artifacts using digital systems models. This internship offers a unique and exciting opportunity to gain knowledge and practical work experience in applying digital system engineering to a wide range of systems problems in the space, missile defense, and nuclear security domains.

Work Model

This position will be located 100% onsite in Chantilly, VA or El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a crucial team member of the Digital Systems Engineering Department, you will play a significant role in building, simulating, and analyzing descriptive models we use to represent space, ground, launch, missile, and nuclear systems. Your specific functions will be to:

• Develop and simulate models describing different aspects of complex space and defense systems, including operational concepts, requirements, architecture and design, performance, reliability, and security, to aid engineers and government customer decision-making activities related to analysis, planning, budgeting, and acquisition program execution.

• Work with experienced subject matter experts to capture the results of various systems engineering concept studies estimating the architecture, design, performance, and cost of future space and ground systems. 

• Work as part of a team to develop digital twin system models that will interact with their physical system twins and update digital twin models based on live telemetry provided by the physical twin.

• Help to federate digital system models with other engineering models including mechanical, electrical, software, cost, performance to formulate holistic digital engineering thread models.  

What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring 

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Must work well in a team environment.

• Possess organizational, time management and project management skills.

• Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need. 

• Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations.

What You Need to be Successful 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Currently enrolled full-time in an accredited college/university program pursuing a Master's or Ph.D. degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering or related 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.

• Undergraduate degree completed by internship start date.

• Minimum GPA of 3.0.

• Knowledge and some experience with simulation and analysis tools such as Cameo Simulation Toolkit, Matlab, Simulink, SimEvents, and Modelcenter.  Applicants will not be familiar with all M&S tools, but a willingness to learn new tools and languages is essential.

• Some knowledge and some experience with descriptive modeling languages including UML, SysMLv1/SysMLv2, and UAFML, and modeling tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler, Sparx E.A., or Rhapsody.

• Familiarity with descriptive modeling methodologies such as OOSEM, MagicGrid, or SysMod.

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. Although a security clearance is not required for the intern position, it would be required if a full-time position were offered at the conclusion of the internship.

• Transcripts required.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• GPA of 3.2 or higher.

• Active security clearance.

• Minoring or dual majoring in another relevant discipline (e.g., Computer Science, Data Science, AI/ML).

• Knowledge of space and ground systems, launch vehicle systems, SATCOM systems, and related topics.

• Experience with data management, data engineering, and/or data exchange between different software tools (APIs, XML, databases, cloud services, AWS, Kubernetes, etc.).

• Team project experience architecting, designing, building, and operating aerospace, electrical, mechanical, and software systems.

• Project or technical leadership experience. 

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.