Undergraduate Career Guide
Summer Research, Internship, and Career Planning
This guide outlines recommended milestones and opportunities for Aero/Astro students to build skills, gain experience, and explore careers in aerospace and related fields. Career doc for Aerospace Engineering.
Freshman Year
Goals: Build foundational skills and explore interests.
- Join a student group:
- Stanford Flight Club – Get hands-on experience in aircraft design and flight.
- Stanford Student Space Initiative (SSI) – Work on real-world projects in rocketry, satellites, space policy, and more.
- Apply for research:
- Aero/Astro Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) An excellent opportunity for summer after freshman or sophomore year to work alongside Stanford faculty and graduate students on aerospace research.
Sophomore Year
Goals: Gain technical depth and real-world project experience.
- Participate in the REU program or join a research lab during the academic year.
- Strengthen your skills in MATLAB, Python, CAD/Fusion 360, and technical writing.
- Begin exploring internships or summer research opportunities through Handshake.
- Use faculty and department alumni connections for internship search guidance and recommendation letters.
Junior Year
Goals: Intern in the aerospace industry and explore career paths.
- Apply for summer internships in industry or research labs. Recent Aero/Astro undergraduates have interned at:
- SpaceX
- Stoke Space
- Zipline
- Attend Stanford's career fairs, resume workshops, and Aero/Astro department alumni and industry events.
- Reach out to alumni & faculty for networking and mentorship.
Senior Year
Goals: Transition to industry or graduate school.
- Complete major requirements.
- Apply for full-time roles or graduate programs in engineering or research.
- Use department and alumni connections for job search guidance and recommendation letters.
Where Our Alumni Work
Aero/Astro undergraduates have gone on to work at top companies across aerospace, robotics, and tech, including:
- SpaceX
- Blue Origin
- Zipline
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
- Boeing
- Northrop Grumman
- Elroy Air
- General Atomics
- Anduril
- Apple
- Planet Labs
- Relativity Space
- Astra
- Lockheed Martin
- Astrobotic Technology
- Benchmark Space Systems
- Aerojet Rocketdyne
For more information or to get involved in research and internships, please contact:
Jenny Scholes, Student Services Administrator Book an appointment
Need a letter of recommendation from our faculty?
Please fill out the UG Letter of Recommendation for Aerospace job/internship application. If letter of recommendation is needed urgently for a job/internship application please email faculty directly.
2026 Internship Opportunities for Aero/Astro Students
| Company | Internship description | Eligibility | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Origin | Paid internships with housing & relocation options. | Students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program. The Blue Origin internship program requires that students are U.S. citizens or nationals, U.S. permanent residents (current Green Card holders), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Visit their website: | Spring: January - April 2026 (~15 weeks) | Application opens June 1st, 2025 | Interviews conducted in July 2025. Summer: May - August 2026 (~12 weeks) | Application opens September 1st, 2025 | Interviews conducted throughout the Fall 2025. |
| Northop Grumman |
| Be a student who is enrolled full-time and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college/university. Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite). Visit their website: https://www.northropgrumman.com/careers/internships-at-northrop-grumman | Internship hiring season, including interviewing and making offers, is in Fall 2025. Internships begin in May or June 2026 and finish up in August/September 2026. |
| SpaceX | 12-week, hands-on engineering internships across multiple locations | U.S. citizens or green-card holders; strong project record. Visit their website: https://www.spacex.com/internships/ |
|
| Stoke Space | Intern across mechanical, avionics, test or software teams. Kent, WA location | Visit their website: https://www.stokespace.com/careers/current-openings/ | 2026 Summer application deadline not published yet but typically in Oct-Nov 2025. |
| NASA | Paid technical internships across NASA centers, including JPL | U.S. citizens/permanent residents; all majors welcome. Visit their website: https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/s/explore-opportunities?opportunitytype=in… | 2026 Internship Application Deadlines: Spring 2026: September 12, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET Summer 2026: February 27, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET Fall 2026: May 22, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Lockheed Martin | Our internship program is designed to provide meaningful work experiences to college and high school students, preparing you for a successful career in a variety of disciplines. | Visit their website: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/careers/candidates/students-early-… | 2026 Summer application deadline not published yet but typically in Oct-Nov 2025. |
| Zipline | Our internships are full-time positions, in-person at our South San Francisco office. | Visit their website: https://www.zipline.com/careers | Accepting Applications now (summer 2025) for Fall 2025 interns from September to December 2025. |
| Boeing | Our internship program is worldwid. | Visit their website: https://jobs.boeing.com/internships | Application Period Aug, 2025 – Oct, 2025 (Fall) Feb, 2026 – Mar, 2026 (Spring) Program Timeline Mid-May, 2026 – Sept, 2026 |
| Rocket Lab | Supply Chain Intern Fall 2025. This role is hands-on and technical, with a big focus on analyzing data to shape Rocket Lab’s overall business strategy. You'll gain insight into the strategies, operations, and structure that keep a rocket company thriving in a high-mortality-rate industry. | Visit their website: https://rocketlabcorp.com/careers/positions/supply-chain-intern-fall-2025-long-beach-california-united-states-6547355003/ | Rocket Lab is now recruiting interns for Fall 2025 and Spring/Summer 2026! |
Employment Report: Bachelor of Science Graduates
2019-2025
