Space Policy & Public Affairs Intern (Hybrid)

Overview Energy; Ashburn (VA); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Job summary

Overview Energy in Northern Virginia is seeking a Public Affairs & Policy Intern to explore space solar energy policy and draft CONOPS language tailored for warfighters.

You'll research U.S. policy, identify DoW sites, and create briefing materials and an operator manual aimed at non-engineers, with a flexible, hybrid 3–5 hour weekly schedule for Sep 2026–Mar 2027, compensated at $30–$40 per hour.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program in public policy, government, international affairs, communications, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated interest in defense, space, or energy policy – coursework, clubs, writing, or prior internships all count.
• Clear, fast writing for non-expert audiences: you can turn a dense directive into a paragraph an operator will actually read.
• Comfortable with primary source research – statute, DoW directives, and federal regulatory frameworks.
• Able to commit 3–5 hours per week from September 2026 through March 2027 with potential extended work time based on the needs of the program; schedule is flexible.

Responsibilities

• Research U.S. policy and regulation governing space operations and ground-based beacon operations, and translate it into CONOPS language the engineering team can design against.
• Identify and profile DoW sites for present and future testing, including access, airspace, and environmental considerations.
• Support warfighter engagement: prepare briefing material, capture feedback in the room, and route it back into CONOPS and design.
• Draft an operator manual written for the warfighter, not the engineer.
• Create warfighter and DoW engagement materials that make an unfamiliar technology easy to understand quickly.
• Track DoW expectations against what we’re producing, and flag gaps early.

Skills

Public policy

Policy writing

Primary-source research

Clear writing

Communications

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in public policy, government, international affairs, or communications

Tools

PowerPoint

MS Office

Job description

Overview Energy in Northern Virginia is seeking a Public Affairs & Policy Intern to explore space solar energy policy and draft CONOPS language tailored for warfighters.

You'll research U.S. policy, identify DoW sites, and create briefing materials and an operator manual aimed at non-engineers, with a flexible, hybrid 3–5 hour weekly schedule for Sep 2026–Mar 2027, compensated at $30–$40 per hour.