2027 Defensive Cyber Operations Undergrad Intern

The Aerospace Corporation•El Segundo, CA

2d•$25 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation is hiring a full-time Defensive Cyber Operations Undergrad Intern for the Cyberspace Combat Department within its Information Systems and Cyber Division. The position is 100% onsite at the company’s El Segundo, California office. Interns join cybersecurity engineers who design, implement, and deploy cyber solutions to protect space assets and support customers including Space Force’s Space Systems Command, the National Reconnaissance Office, NASA, and other civil customers. The Information Systems and Cyber Division combines modern information-system technologies—including elastic compute clouds, containerization, microservices, real-time operating systems, and visualization frameworks—with expertise in cybersecurity, software architecture and engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, process improvement, and software development. Interns will research and develop defensive capabilities for space vehicles, create prototype tools and techniques, and conduct vulnerability research and reverse engineering on space-related software. Training and mentorship will be provided. Duties may change or be added as needed. The internship requires availability to work full-time for at least 10 weeks outside the university term, with the ability to return to a full-time degree program afterward. The hourly pay range is $25.00–$30.00. Temporary housing assistance is not available.

Requirements

Currently enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university degree program, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related program.
Available to work full-time for a minimum of 10 weeks outside the university term and able to return to a full-time degree program after the internship.
Minimum GPA of 3.0.
Interest in reverse engineering and vulnerability research.
Experience building small- to mid-size projects with Python, C, or Rust.
Experience with containerization tools such as Docker or Kubernetes.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance.
Transcripts are required.

Nice To Haves

Security+ or another security certification.
Hands-on experience with Ghidra or IDA Pro.
Experience working with ground- or space-related technology.
Active participation in Capture-The-Flag events.
Active security clearance.
GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Responsibilities

Research and develop onboard defensive capabilities to protect space vehicles.
Build prototype tools and techniques to improve the cybersecurity posture of mission systems using technologies such as containerization, cloud, and artificial intelligence.
Conduct vulnerability research and reverse engineering on space-related software.
Communicate project status and technical findings to customers and provide technical demonstrations.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
401(k) plan with company-paid contributions of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
Flexible spending accounts.
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
Relocation assistance.
Professional growth and development programs.
Education assistance programs.
Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.