Fall 2026 Internship - Engineering
About this role
About the role
At Orbital Operations, we believe that bold missions demand exceptional teams. We’re building a world-class group of engineers and innovators to push the boundaries of dynamic space maneuvering and we’re excited to welcome interns to join us.
As an intern, you won’t be on the sidelines. You’ll work on real, open-ended challenges that directly impact our mission from advancing cryogenic propulsion systems to accelerating orbital logistics. You’ll be paired with a dedicated mentor and collaborate closely with engineers across disciplines to apply your knowledge, grow your skills, and contribute to high-impact projects.
We’re looking for interns who are curious, driven, and ready to move fast. You’ll need to be self-directed, adaptable, and eager to learn in a fast-paced environment where the stakes are high and the mission is clear.
Internship opportunities are available across our engineering teams, including:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Fluids Design and Analysis
- Test and Integration
- Manufacturing and Assembly
If you’re ready to help build the future of orbital operations, we’d love to hear from you.
Qualifications
- Pursuing Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science or a similar STEM field
- Exceptional command of engineering fundamentals
- Hands-on engineering experience through internships, personal projects, work, or teams
- Ability to manage a complex technical project and take it through execution
- Ability to learn and apply state of the art techniques to technical projects
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Able to work full-time, onsite in Long Beach for a minimum of 10-12 consecutive weeks
Company at a glance
Orbital Operations is developing a high-thrust space vehicle for satellite defense. Its mission is to enable rapid-response orbital capabilities, executing maneuvers without hesitation and without regret. The company is led by co-founders Ross Doherty (COO) and Ben Schleuniger (CEO). Doherty previously worked at Aerojet Rocketdyne, Blue Origin, and Relativity Space, leading turbomachinery manufacturing and assembly for the Aeon-R engine and directing the Flight Termination System test and qualification program for the TM-1 rocket. Schleuniger previously worked at NASA, SpaceX, and Relativity Space, owning the fluid systems for the TM1 rocket, the complex heat exchangers on the Aeon-R engine, and building the Components team and the Integrated Design and Analysis teams. The founders' backgrounds reflect deep expertise in rocket engine design, propulsion, manufacturing, testing, and building high-performance engineering teams, positioning Orbital Operations to address the satellite defense market with rapid-response capabilities.
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