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.
At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.
The Aerospace Corporation is hiring a Graduate-level Composites Intern.
The Aerospace Physical Sciences Laboratories (PSL) is a diverse scientific organization that provides a broad and innovative research and development backplane for a growing space enterprise. PSL’s impact is grown through a diverse research portfolio that blends foundational scientific research with cutting-edge technology development to serve a broad customer base. PSL’s exclusive ability to work with all stakeholders: (government, industry, and academia) enables us to provide novel solutions to the most challenging issues in current and future technology applications. The strength of PSL comes from the combination of cutting-edge tools and facilities, a vast repository of space-system knowledge, and the extensive technical expertise of our people. We harness these tools and expertise in over 150 different laboratories to tackle the new challenges for the space enterprise.
The Materials Science Department within the Space Materials Laboratory is seeking a Graduate-level Composites Intern; a well-qualified individual with a strong foundation in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering fields which emphases on composite materials for space applications. The graduate intern should also have experience with composites, layup, characterization, and mechanical testing for space applications. Over the course of internship, the intern will also work closely with several mentors and receive hands-on lab experience with material processing, characteristic and other valuable training related to composite materials.
Work Model
This position will be located 100% onsite in El Segundo, CA
What You’ll Be Doing
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Graduate intern will be working in the Materials Science Department (MSD) investigating structure- property relationships of high-performance composite materials and effect of processing conditions on resulting thermal and mechanical properties.
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Evaluating cure properties of CFRP composite materials and develop techniques to characterize resultant properties, including mechanical, thermal, microstructure, dimensional stability, etc. Research may also involve working with other high-performance materials and associated processes.
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Various mechanical testing of structural materials
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Data acquisition and analysis
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Participate with an interdisciplinary team in ongoing research or technical programs.
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Offer technical consultation to MSD team members and management
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Communicate with personnel within PSL and between organizations within Engineering, Technology Group
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Coordinate and actively engage with MSD staff/ colleagues on joint projects
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Document technical efforts, prepare written and oral reports of research activities and accomplishments, and present to higher management, internal colleagues and the broader scientific community
What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring
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Strong written and oral communication skills
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Must work well in a team environment
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Possess organizational, time management and project management skills
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Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need
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Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations
What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements:
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Currently enrolled fulltime in an accredited college/university program pursuing a Master's or Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related discipline.
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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.
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Minimum GPA 3.0
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The graduate candidate should have taken courses in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry of Materials and Structure and Properties of Composite Materials.
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In addition, a skill set in materials science with a familiar with basic polymer processing and common metrology such as microscopy, thermal analysis and tensile testing.
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Willingness to occasionally travel domestically and work off-business hours to support customer needs.
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This position requires the 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:
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Interest in gaining knowledge in structural materials for space, i.e. CFRP composites, with respect to processing, testing, and characterization
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Hands-on experience with using an autoclave, Instron and thermal analysis equipment such as DSC, TGA, DMA and a rheometer.
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Hands-on experience with characterization of structure- property relationships of high-performance CFRP composite materials and effect of processing conditions on resulting thermal and mechanical properties.
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Records on publishing technical paper or delivering conference presentations
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Demonstrated ability to independently work technical assignments
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Demonstrated ability to independently work technical assignments
Temporary housing assistance is not available.
The Aerospace Corporation is a proud member of Space Workforce 2030, a growing coalition of leading space companies committed to collaboratively working toward a shared vision of expanding and diversifying opportunities for talent to join the exciting space industry. As part of this commitment, the Space Workforce 2030 companies have pledged to increase the number of females, diverse employees, and interns with a goal to hire at least 3,000 interns by the summer of 2030. 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
Ways We Reward Our Employees
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:
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Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
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Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
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Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
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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
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Flexible spending accounts
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Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
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Relocation assistance
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Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
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Education assistance programs
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An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect
We are all unique, from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. 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 ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.