HITL Engineering Intern Summer 2027

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

60d•Onsite

About The Position

As a HITL Engineering Intern based at Rocket Lab’s site in Long Beach, CA, you will have the opportunity to support the team with hands-on interaction with real hardware, incomplete specifications, and failures that require structured debugging and engineering judgment. The HITL team is responsible for designing, building, maintaining, and operating Hardware In The Loop (HITL) systems and automation tools.

Requirements

Must be enrolled in a bachelor’s, master's or doctorate degree program in an engineering, physics or math discipline and have at least one semester of school remaining post internship.
GPA of 3.0 or above.
3+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable).
Able to work full-time, on-site for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks beginning May or June 2027.
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.

Nice To Haves

GPA of 3.5 or above.
6+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable).
Knowledge of Systems Engineering.
Knowledge of Mechatronics.
Python Experience.

Responsibilities

Support the team with hands-on interaction with real hardware, incomplete specifications, and failures that require structured debugging and engineering judgment.
Design, build, maintain, and operate Hardware In The Loop (HITL) systems and automation tools.
Work closely with your mentor and other employees within the department to apply your knowledge and grow your skills both technically and professionally.
Work with a fast-paced group of professionals to apply engineering and industry concepts to solve real challenges.
Attend frequent 1:1’s with mentors and supervisors to facilitate success and learning while providing progress updates.
Enjoy tech talks and network with other interns and employees through social and professional events.

Benefits

Stipend to subsidize relocation costs
Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock)
Top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution)
Dental and vision coverage
Paid vacation and sick time
11 paid holidays
Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
Paid parental leave
Disability and life insurance
401(k) retirement plan with company match
Subsidized EV charging
Onsite fitness centers (where available)
Discounted gym memberships
Complimentary snacks and beverages
50% employee discount on our popular merch store
Variety of other employee discounts