Internship - Mission Operations Engineering (Spacecraft) - Summer 2026

Firefly Aerospace • Cedar Park, TX

1d

About The Position

This internship provides a foundational pathway into spacecraft mission operations by immersing you in the development of Mission Operations Center ground segment test plans, flight operations procedures, high-fidelity simulations, and complex operations workflows for both the Blue Ghost lunar lander and the Elytra orbital vehicle. You will receive direct mentorship from Mission Operations Engineers, gaining the technical proficiency and operational mindset necessary to build a strong professional foundation for a potential full-time role in the field.

Requirements

• Must be currently enrolled in either a BS or MS program (or a recent graduate) at an accredited four-year university or college.
• Interest in spacecraft operations, ground control systems, or simulation environments.
• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, or similar tools
• Comfortable working in Linux/command-line environments.
• Able to follow structured processes and work collaboratively.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with CubeSat or small satellite projects.
• Exposure to ground systems, simulators, or mission operations tools.
• Familiarity with scripting, automation, or documentation tools

Responsibilities

• Develop and test flight procedures and operational checklists for spacecraft missions.
• Prepare and validate simulation runs and mission rehearsals by supporting ground system configuration, scenario and automation validation, and nominal/anomaly injection execution.
• Work on ground system tasks, such as requirements verification, test plan development, and workflow documentation.
• Engage and contribute in team meetings and briefings to learn how mission operations decisions are made.
• Own the development of focused projects and tools that help the team and systems prepare for flight operations.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern