2027 Mission Design Summer Internship

Advanced Space • Westminster, CO

8d • $26 - $35 • Onsite

About The Position

At Advanced Space, we're enabling humanity's return to the Moon and building the technologies that will take us to Mars and beyond. We're looking for a 2027 Mission Design Summer Intern to join our astrodynamics team and contribute to innovative spacecraft mission design projects supporting the future of space exploration. As a Mission Design Intern, you'll work alongside experienced technical staff who will provide mentorship and guidance throughout your internship. You'll gain hands-on experience solving real astrodynamics challenges, conducting mission design research, and contributing to projects connected to active space missions. This internship is ideal for students who are passionate about orbital mechanics, spacecraft mission design, and the future of space exploration. You'll have the opportunity to apply your technical skills while learning from engineers working on some of the industry's most exciting missions.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or another engineering discipline.
• Strong foundation in orbital mechanics and computer programming.
• Interest in spacecraft mission design, navigation, guidance and control, optimization, or estimation theory.
• Completed coursework or research related to astrodynamics, orbital mechanics, or space systems.
• Enjoy solving complex technical problems and exploring new approaches to space mission challenges.
• Curious, collaborative, and excited to learn from experienced aerospace engineers.

Nice To Haves

• Undergraduate or graduate research in orbital mechanics or astrodynamics
• Spacecraft mission design tools and simulation environments
• Optimization techniques and numerical methods
• Three-body dynamics and periodic orbit analysis
• Guidance, navigation, and control concepts
• Python, MATLAB, or other scientific computing languages
• Machine learning applications in aerospace

Responsibilities

• Support mission design research and development.
• Work alongside astrodynamics engineers on summer projects focused on spacecraft mission design, trajectory analysis, and advanced spaceflight concepts.
• Solve challenging astrodynamics problems.
• Contribute to technical projects involving areas such as: NRHO station keeping strategies, Rendezvous and proximity operations, Transfers between periodic orbits in the three-body problem, Interplanetary mission design with multiple gravity assists, Aerocapture flight mechanics, Trajectory optimization using evolutionary algorithms, Reinforcement learning applications for trajectory design, Optical navigation using artificial intelligence algorithms.
• Apply engineering and programming skills.
• Use your background in orbital mechanics, computer programming, and numerical methods to support analysis, simulation, and mission design workflows.
• Share your work and findings.
• Present project results through technical reports, presentations, and discussions with members of the astrodynamics team.

Benefits

• Competitive internship compensation: $26–$35/hour
• Housing stipend
• Mentorship and guidance from technical staff
• Opportunities to contribute to research projects directly tied to active space missions
• Collaborative work environment at our Westminster, Colorado headquarters

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed