What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2026 Navigation & Positioning Systems Graduate Intern position at The Aerospace Corporation?
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.
Job Summary
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 and space-enabled capabilities.
The Surveillance and Navigation Architecture Performance Department (SNAPD) serves as a center of expertise in evaluating architectures and performance in the domains of remote sensing for geospatial and signals intelligence and surveillance, geolocation, position, navigation, and timing (PNT), and communication and ground orchestration.
As an intern with the Surveillance and Navigation Architecture Performance Department, Navigation and Positioning systems Section, you will directly contribute to technical capabilities that support our customers through modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) to perform requirements verification, analyses-of-alternatives (AoA), and performance evaluation for navigation and positioning systems. Our interns work as part of a team on multiple projects with project mentors, full time staff, and other interns to apply existing skills and expand their knowledge. We are looking for curious and innovative teammates to help us address our customers’ hardest problems!
Work Model
This 100% onsite position can be filled in our El Segundo, CA, Chantilly, VA, or Colorado Springs, CO offices.
What You’ll Be Doing
What You Need to be Successful
Graduate Intern
How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
The Aerospace Corporation is a proud member of Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT), a growing coalition of leading space companies committed to collaboratively working toward a shared vision of expanding and providing opportunities for talent to join the exciting space industry. As part of this commitment, SWFT companies are focused on building a skilled, innovative, and sustainable space workforce required to maintain U.S. leadership in space for decades to come. Click here to learn more and register for the National Space Intern program.
We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.
(Min - Max)
$32.00 - $48.00
Pay Basis: Hourly
Leadership Competencies
Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:
During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.
Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.
Job Summary
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 and space-enabled capabilities.
The Surveillance and Navigation Architecture Performance Department (SNAPD) serves as a center of expertise in evaluating architectures and performance in the domains of remote sensing for geospatial and signals intelligence and surveillance, geolocation, position, navigation, and timing (PNT), and communication and ground orchestration.
As an intern with the Surveillance and Navigation Architecture Performance Department, Navigation and Positioning systems Section, you will directly contribute to technical capabilities that support our customers through modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) to perform requirements verification, analyses-of-alternatives (AoA), and performance evaluation for navigation and positioning systems. Our interns work as part of a team on multiple projects with project mentors, full time staff, and other interns to apply existing skills and expand their knowledge. We are looking for curious and innovative teammates to help us address our customers’ hardest problems!
Work Model
This 100% onsite position can be filled in our El Segundo, CA, Chantilly, VA, or Colorado Springs, CO offices.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Gaining knowledge and experience in one or more of the following domains: geolocation, Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) architecture analysis, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, and jamming and spoofing.
- Provide analysis to support recommendations for research, development, and acquisition decisions for legacy and emerging customer navigation and positioning architectures.
- Perform architecture evaluation modeling overall performance using in-house or custom-developed analysis tools.
- Work closely with staff, management, and a team to translate customer needs into project objectives and provide technical evaluations.
- Develop and present timely and technically accurate presentations and reports that clearly communicate analysis results and provide recommended solutions to technical leads, management, and customers, with guidance from mentors.
- Aid in sustainment, development, and growth of the organization’s analysis and simulation capabilities to support functional areas for our diverse customer base.
- Participate with an interdisciplinary team in ongoing research or technical programs with academic collaboration partners.
What You Need to be Successful
Graduate Intern
- Currently Accepted to or enrolled full time in a MS or PhD degree program in mathematics, aerospace engineering, physics, operations research, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
- Familiarity with one or more software languages that may include Python, C , or MATLAB.
- A history that shows personal accountability, a desire to learn, and an ability to manage several simultaneous tasks.
- The ability to interact and work with a diverse team in different locations.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
- Previous experience in one or more of the functional/mission areas listed above.
- Academic background in systems engineering, modeling & simulation, PNT, or space-based remote sensing architectures.
- Experience developing and presenting analysis results.
- Proficiency in orbital mechanics or space operations.
- Current TS/SCI access with a polygraph.
The Aerospace Corporation is a proud member of Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT), a growing coalition of leading space companies committed to collaboratively working toward a shared vision of expanding and providing opportunities for talent to join the exciting space industry. As part of this commitment, SWFT companies are focused on building a skilled, innovative, and sustainable space workforce required to maintain U.S. leadership in space for decades to come. Click here to learn more and register for the National Space Intern program.
We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.
(Min - Max)
$32.00 - $48.00
Pay Basis: Hourly
Leadership Competencies
Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:
- Operate Strategically
- Lead Change
- Engage with Impact
- Foster Innovation
- Deliver Results
During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.
Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:
- Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
- Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
- Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
- 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
- Flexible spending accounts
- Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
- Relocation assistance
- Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
- Education assistance programs
- An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.
Salary : $32 - $48
