2027 Remote Sensing Architecture Performance Graduate Intern

The Aerospace Corporation; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care and wellness plans

Paid holidays and vacation

401(k) plan with employer matching

Education assistance programs

Relocation assistance

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation seeks a Remote Sensing Architecture Graduate Intern to apply modeling and simulation tools for space-based remote sensing architectures. You will work with project mentors and staff across multiple projects to verify requirements and analyze alternatives.

We value strong programming skills (Python/C++/MATLAB), analytical thinking, and the ability to collaborate in a multi-location team. This 100% onsite internship offers diverse space programs and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled full-time in an accredited college/university pursuing a Master's or Ph.D. in a related field or BS completed by internship start date and enrolled in a graduate STEM degree program starting Fall 2027.
• Must be able to work full-time for at least 10 weeks and return to graduate program after internship.
• GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Familiarity with astrodynamics or space operations.
• Ability to work with a diverse team across locations.
• Experience with Python, C++, or MATLAB.

Responsibilities

• Gain knowledge in national security space or intelligence mission areas such as geo-spatial intelligence, signals intelligence, space surveillance, or navigation systems.
• Provide analysis to support research, development, and acquisition decisions for space-based sensing architectures.
• Perform architecture evaluation modeling using in-house or custom tools.
• Translate customer needs into project objectives and provide technical evaluations.
• Develop and present timely, accurate presentations and reports communicating analysis results and recommended solutions.

Skills

Python

C++

MATLAB

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in aerospace engineering/physics/ops research/math

Tools

Python

C++

MATLAB

Job description

Job Summary

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. Job Summary The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities. The Surveillance and Navigation Architecture Performance Department (SNAPD) in the Integrated Performance Subdivision aspires to be the premier force advising the evolution of national security and civil space enterprises, leveraging our modeling and simulation (M&S) expertise to evaluate end-to-end architecture performance. We are seeking a Remote Sensing Architecture Graduate Intern that will make use of sophisticated modeling and simulation tools in support of requirements verification, analyses-of-alternatives (AoA), and performance modeling for space-based remote sensing architectures. Our interns work as part of a team on multiple projects with project mentors, full time staff, and other interns to apply existing skills and expand their MS&A knowledge. We support a variety of customers with diverse program portfolios, and we are looking for curious and innovative teammates to help us address our customers’ hardest problems!

Work Model

This 100% onsite position can be filled in either of our El Segundo, CA, Chantilly, VA, or Colorado Springs, CO offices.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Gaining knowledge and experience in one of these specific national security space or intelligence mission areas: geo-spatial intelligence, signals intelligence, space surveillance, navigation systems, space protection, and/or communications infrastructure supporting defense or intelligence capabilities.
• Provide analysis to support recommendations for research, development, and acquisition decisions of legacy and emerging customer space-based sensing architectures.
• Perform architecture evaluation modeling overall performance using in-house or custom-developed analysis tools.
• Work closely with staff, management, and a team to translate customer needs into project objectives and provide technical evaluations.
• Develop and present timely and technically-accurate presentations and reports that clearly communicate analysis results and provide recommended solutions to technical leads, management, and customers.
• Aid in sustainment, development, and growth of the organization’s analysis and simulation capabilities to support functional areas for our diverse customer base.

What You Need to be Successful

• Currently enrolled fulltime in an accredited college/university program pursuing a Master's or Ph.D. degree in aerospace engineering, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related field from an accredited program, OR BS completed by internship start date and enrolled in a graduate STEM degree program in Aerospace, physics, ops research, math or related field beginning Fall 2027
• Availability to work full-time for a minimum of 10 weeks outside of university term and ability to return to a Master's or Ph.D. degree program after completion of the internship.
• Minimum GPA 3.0
• Familiarity with astrodynamics or space operations.
• The ability to interact and work with a diverse team in different locations.
• Familiarity with one or more software languages that may include Python, C++, or MATLAB.
• A history that shows personal accountability, a desire to learn, and an ability to manage several simultaneous tasks.
• This position requires 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.
• Transcripts required

How You Can Stand Out

• Previous experience in one or more of the functional/mission areas listed above.
• Academic background in systems engineering, modeling & simulation, or space-based remote sensing architectures.
• Experience developing and presenting analysis results.
• Proficiency in orbital mechanics or space operations.
• Proficiency with software development in Python or C++.
• Familiarity with High-Performance Computing/Linux environments.
• Current TS/SCI access with a polygraph.

We offer a competitive compensation package

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

• 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

• 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

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. 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 [e-mail] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

Right Place

The Aerospace Corporation has over 26 locations nationwide, which allows us to build a workforce that will nurture the best ideas, and generate the most novel innovations and solutions to our nation’s toughest space enterprise challenges.

Right Path

Aerospace covers all stages of the space lifecycle, from concept to operations. We believe our people are our most valuable resource and that’s why we propel our employees forward in their careers through ongoing education, training, and professional development.

Right Purpose

We can all serve a mission much greater than ourselves, and at Aerospace that is exactly what we do. By hiring the industry’s most preeminent scientists and engineers, Aerospace advances emerging technologies that protect some of the most critical missions on Earth and above it.

Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.