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Engineering Internship (Spring 2026)

El Segundo, California

A New Paradigm For Space Operations.

Who We Are: 
Space Kinetic is a cleared, venture-backed startup focused on addressing urgent national security priorities. Our goal is to deliver a suite of asymmetric capabilities for space superiority and missile defense leveraging our proprietary electromechanical deployment system, which enables the rapid deployment of low-cost payloads through space without firing a thruster. Space Kinetic is currently assembling its TRL-5 prototype. Our goal is to leverage this platform to provide the United States with a new tool for securing the space domain & catalyzing the emerging space economy.

For those who dream of changing the Universe, an internship with Space Kinetic is the place to start. 

As an Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Intern, you will support Engineering to help design and build prototypes for Space Kinetic’s core technology to achieve our mission of a flight demo within the next 2 years in a fast-paced startup environment. You will work with the Space Kinetic manufacturing and/or engineering teams to enhance the current design architecture as we prepare for Flight Development.  Depending upon your background, the role can dive deep into CAD, software coding, system engineering integration and test, thermal modeling, stress analysis, Electrical Circuit Design, board and box assembly and test or manufacturing support. You will collaborate with vendors to source components, support finite element analysis (FEA) simulations for the system, and create models for both the current prototype and the full-scale system. Test as built systems, develop code for flight and ground applications.

What It Takes: 

  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, self-driven entrepreneurial workplace 
  • Currently enrolled as a Junior or Senior level at an accredited college or university pursuing your Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) degree
  • Experience with CAD software (SolidWorks) Ansys, or thermal desktop 
  • Coding experience in C++, Python and/or Rust  
  • Ability to work with minimal direction or support and to learn quickly; strong analytical skills; creative and innovative thinking; detail-oriented; calm under pressure; commitment to follow-through; enthusiastic with a talent for motivating others; receptive to career coaching and open to others' ideas; and effective in written communication. 
  • Ability to maintain or obtain Government Security Clearance. 
  •  

 What We’d Love: 

  • Knowledgeable of Dynamics and Kinematics
  • Previous experience with Control Systems (Sensor Fusion, Kalman Filtering, IMU) 
  • Mathematics to include Linear Algebra, Differential Equation, Probability and Statistics
  • Python 

Where You’ll Be: 

  • The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA.

ITAR Requirements:  
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here 

Equal Employment Opportunity: 
Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. 

The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data.  Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.  

Pay Range

$27 - $27 USD

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