HITL Engineering Intern Fall 2026
Not Disclosed•InternOn-site
location_on22392, Bonita Street, Watson Industrial Center, Keystone, Carson, Los Angeles County, California, 90745, United States
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation, and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.
Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.
As a HITL Engineering Intern based at Rocket Lab's site in Long Beach, CA, you will have the opportunity to support the deliverables to HITL stakeholders in our Space Systems organization. The HITL team is responsible for designing, building, maintaining, and operating Hardware In The Loop (HITL) systems.
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. This role offers the chance to work with a fast-paced group of professionals to apply engineering and industry concepts to solve real challenges. You will attend frequent 1:1s with mentors and supervisors to facilitate success and learning while providing progress updates, and enjoy tech talks and networking with other interns and employees through social and professional events.
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.
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.
U.S. Candidates: 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.
New Zealand Candidates: 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.
Accommodations: Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com. 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.
Work model: On-site
22392, Bonita Street, Watson Industrial Center, Keystone, Carson, Los Angeles County, California, 90745, United States
Carson, California
GPA of 3.5 or above. 6+ months of applied engineering experience. Knowledge of Systems Engineering. Knowledge of Mechatronics. Python Experience.
Skills: Systems Engineering, Mechatronics, Python.
Education: Must be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in engineering, physics, or math; Must be enrolled in a master's degree program in engineering, physics, or math; Must be enrolled in a doctorate degree program in engineering, physics, or math.
