Structural Analysis Intern Spring 2027

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock purchase program

Medical plans (HMO, PPO, HDHP) with HS

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Relocation stipend

Job summary

Rocket Lab Corporation in Long Beach, CA invites an Structural Analysis Intern to join the on-site team for a 12+ week program. You will support the Structural Analysis Team with detailed simulations and physics-based analyses, contributing to vehicle design and analysis activities.

You will engage with mentors, participate in tech talks, and gain hands-on experience in aerospace structural engineering within a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree program in an Aerospace, Aeronautical, Astronautical, or Mechanical engineering discipline and have at least one semester of school remaining post internship.
• GPA 3.0 or above
• 3+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable)

Responsibilities

• Support the Structural Analysis Team in performing detailed simulations and physics-based analysis
• Work with a fast-paced group to apply engineering concepts to real challenges
• Attend frequent 1:1s with mentors and supervisors to facilitate success and learning
• Collaborate across teams to deliver results

Skills

GPA 3.0+

Applied engineering experience

Team collaboration

Project autonomy

Education

Bachelors/Masters/PhD in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Astronautical or Mechanical engineering

Tools

CAD/CAM

FEA software

Siemens NX

Job description

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

As a Structural Analysis Intern based at Rocket Lab’s site in Long Beach, California, you will have the opportunity to support the Structural Analysis Team in performing detailed simulations and physics-based analysis and support the Vehicle Design and analysis activities. The Structural Analysis team is responsible for the analysis, design validation, and future improvements of our suite of Space Systems and Space Components.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO

• As an intern, you will work closely with your mentor and other employees within the department to apply your knowledge and grow your skills both technically and professionally
• Work with a fast-paced group of professionals to apply engineering and industry concepts to solve real challenges
• Attend frequent 1:1's with mentors and supervisors to facilitate success and learning while providing progress updates
• Enjoy tech talks and network with other interns and employees through social and professional events

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

• Ideal candidates will thrive in ambiguity and are excited to work in small, high-performing teams that are focused on continued learning and growth. Success in this position will be measured by the knowledge and experience you bring to the role, your ability to lead development projects without supervision, and your ability to successfully collaborate across teams to deliver results.
• Must be enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree program in an Aerospace, Aeronautical, Astronautical, or Mechanical engineering discipline and have at least one semester of school remaining post internship
• GPA of 3.0 or above
• 3+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable)

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

• GPA of 3.5 or above
• 6+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable)
• Experience using CAD/CAM
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software experience
• Statics and Dynamics experience.
• Siemens NX experience

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Able to work full-time, on-site for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks beginning January, February, or March 2027

COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS

Pay Range CA: $28.00 USD Hourly

You may be eligible for a stipend to subsidize relocation costs

• Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock)
• Top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution)
• Dental and vision coverage
• Paid vacation and sick time
• 11 paid holidays
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
• Paid parental leave
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match

• Subsidized EV charging
• Onsite fitness centers (where available)
• Discounted gym memberships
• Complimentary snacks and beverages
• 50% employee discount on our popular merch store
• Other employee discounts

Eligibility for benefits may vary based on employment status, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role. Benefit programs are subject to change at the company’s discretion.

Hourly Pay Range (CA Only)

$28 - $28 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here .

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [e-mail]. This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Rocket Lab Corporation’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.