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Internship / co-opSpace

Systems Engineering Intern Summer 2027

Rocket Lab · Chantilly, VA

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · intern

Est. total comp~$32/hr

Apply on Rocket Lab's site ↗

From the posting

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

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 Systems Engineering Intern based at Rocket Lab’s site in Chantilly, Virginia, you will have the opportunity to support subsystem/system development testing and verification. This Systems Engineering team helps develop and execute to the technical baseline across all programs.

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. …

Excerpt from Rocket Lab's public job board. Read the full posting.

Job inventory

This posting has no clear required and preferred sections in the text we have, so these are the items it names.

Named in the posting 5 items

Education: Enrolled in or recently finished a bachelor's program

Skills and tools: SolidWorks, Excel

Clearance and work authorization: US person (ITAR / export control), US citizenship

We have not read this posting carefully yet, so it cannot show as Mission Ready. These items come from a keyword scan.

Based on the posting text we have. Check the full posting.

Get ready for this role

Crew department: Surface Ops

Skills this kind of role usually asks for:

Operations planning and scheduling
Field test and integration
Reading drawings and procedures
Safety and hazard analysis
Equipment telemetry and logs

Related coursework: the Surface Ops Track: Site Work, Heavy Equipment and Hauling. We study 5 core modules, take a quiz after each one and pass a final test to earn the Mars Mining Certificate in Surface Operations Fundamentals. We can link its verification page from our resume. It records online learning, not professional licensing or work experience.

Join the crew and train for this role About Surface Ops

Quick self-check: are you ready for this one?Free, no signup. Your answers stay in this browser tab.

I can do Operations planning and scheduling on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Field test and integration on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Reading drawings and procedures on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Safety and hazard analysis on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Equipment telemetry and logs on the job, or have used it in a class or project I have a project or work sample I could show an interviewer My resume is tailored to this kind of role I've practiced answering interview questions for this kind of job

Free. The department comes from the job title and can be off. A Mars Mining certificate shows you studied and passed our test; it isn't a license or academic credit.

About this listing. Pulled automatically from Rocket Lab's public job board and refreshed daily; closed roles are removed. Mars Mining Co. is not the employer, does not take applications and does not screen candidates. Field and level labels come from the job title and can be wrong.

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