Home / Jobs / Rocket Lab

Internship / co-opAerospace Space

Test Engineering Intern - Avionics Summer 2027

Rocket Lab · Long Beach, CA

Posted Sep 10, 2026 · intern

Est. total comp~$36/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 Test Engineering Intern based at Rocket Lab’s site in Long Beach, California, you will have the opportunity to support the Space Systems team as they develop the software that tests the hardware going into space. Space Systems test automation is a software team embedded within the larger avionics test group, and they work closely with production and engineering teams to debug and support design & manufacturing issues.

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 …

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 7 items

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

Skills and tools: Python, Java, JavaScript, Embedded

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: Processing

Skills this kind of role usually asks for:

Mass and energy balances
Process control
Materials testing
Thermal systems
Root-cause analysis

Related coursework: the Processing Track: Mineral Processing, Refining and Recycling. We study 4 core modules, take a quiz after each one and pass a final test to earn the Mars Mining Certificate in Processing 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 Processing

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

I can do Mass and energy balances on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Process control on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Materials testing on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Thermal systems on the job, or have used it in a class or project I can do Root-cause analysis 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.

More at Rocket Lab

Test Technician III Long Beach, CA
Manufacturing Engineer II - Propulsion Long Beach, CA
Equipment Maintenance Technician II Long Beach, CA
Senior Equipment Maintenance Technician Long Beach, CA
Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Avionics & Test Long Beach, CA

All Rocket Lab roles on our board →

New to the field? Use the roadmap or read the break-in guides.