2026 Space Systems Architect Graduate Intern

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.

Space Systems Architecture Graduate Intern

The Aerospace Corporation is hiring a Space Systems Architecture Graduate Intern

who will perform architecture-level assessment, modeling, analysis, and conceptual design activities as a member of the Architecture Concepts Department (ArCon).

ArCon provides expertise in architecture methods, processes, and tools to an extremely broad range of customers, including National Security Space (NSS) and other defense programs, NASA, NOAA, NNSA, DHS, and others.  Interns in ArCon participate in and lead architecture trade studies, architecture conceptualization studies, architecture modeling tasks, and program assessment analyses at multiple levels of complexity, ranging from prototype systems to full scale acquisition systems in the space, ground, communications, and network domains.  ArCon applies disciplined system architecting principles and leads cross-functional teams to provide impactful guidance to assist our customers in making key acquisition and operations decisions.

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-enabled mission effects.

Work Model: This position will be located 100% onsite in Chantilly, VA, El Segundo, CA or Colorado Springs, CO. 

What you’ll be doing:

• Apply disciplined system architecting methods, processes, and tools for architecture-level trades, in a broad range of architecture-level assessment, modeling, analysis, and conceptual design activities
• Participate in a space system architecting, conceptual design, and analysis activities as part of a large cross-disciplinary team of summer interns
• Develop and execute innovative methods for advancing the state of the practice of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering (DE) to enhance our customers' ability to conduct systems engineering across the architecture lifecycle.
• Use, develop, and integrate analytical methods and tools to evaluate architectural concepts and system conceptual designs for cost, schedule, performance, risk, resilience to disruptive events or threats, and other characteristics
• Closely collaborate with other Aerospace personnel to marshal technical expertise in multiple technical disciplines and domains to enable concurrent engineering approaches to address complex problems
• Work with Aerospace program office, customer, and contractor personnel to elicit and identify needs, requirements, and constraints for studies; build cross-disciplinary teams; scope, plan, and execute the study; and effectively communicate task status, methods, results, and recommendations in briefings and formal technical reports

What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Must work well in a team environment
• Possess organizational, time management, and project management skills
• Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need
• Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations

What You Need to be Successful:

Minimum Requirements:

• Currently enrolled full time in an accredited college/university program pursuing a Masters or PhD degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, aeronautical engineering, astronautical engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or a closely related field.
• Availability to work full time for a minimum of 10 weeks outside of university term and ability to return to a degree program full-time after completion of the internship. 
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, aeronautical engineering, astronautical engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or a closely related field.

• Minimum GPA 3.0