The recent developments of Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, have attracted attention from the US and beyond. This year alone, it has launched 49 Starlink Internet satellites into orbit, bringing the active Starlink satellite count to over 2,000. With the strides SpaceX has made, those with an interest in aerospace manufacturing should consider their career options. If you want to learn how to get an internship at SpaceX, now is the time.
While getting a summer SpaceX internship may seem intimidating, this article will provide you with everything you need to know about the process. Additionally, it answers any questions you may have, including how much a SpaceX internship pays, what an intern does, and whether or not it’s hard to land a computer science internship opportunity.
What Is SpaceX? A Brief SpaceX Background
Space Exploration Technologies Corp, famously known as SpaceX, is an American space exploration company that deals with space transportation and aerospace manufacturing services. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk and is headquartered in Hawthorne, California. However, SpaceX has several locations spread across the United States.
SpaceX is famously known for manufacturing Falcon 9, rocket engines, Starlink communications satellites, Cargo Dragon, and crew spacecraft. Further, through SpaceX, Elon Musk successfully launched a spacecraft into outer space, and safely returned the spacecraft from Earth’s orbit. The company has also landed a spacecraft with crew members on the International Space Station. Elon Musk’s goal is to improve access to space.
Does SpaceX Hire Students?
Yes, SpaceX hires students. The technology company features internships and associate programs that focus on hiring enrolled students. These programs play a huge role in realizing the growth and future of space exploration. SpaceX interns and associate engineers are an integral part of the success of the company in turning humans into multi-planetary species.
SpaceX Internships: General Overview
SpaceX internship programs seek talented candidates to join its one-year round program. It’s an excellent opportunity for candidates to effect change directly in the space industry and space exploration. The internship programs cut across engineering and business operations.
What Does a SpaceX Intern Do?
SpaceX interns are mostly responsible for designing, developing, manufacturing, and testing spacelight hardware. Interns who work in the business operations department are expected to help SpaceX meet its business objectives.
If you succeed in landing an internship position at SpaceX, you should expect your obligations to match that of a full-time engineer. As well, the internship position dictates a lot of teamwork with other full-time engineers.
SpaceX Internship Reviews: What Is the Experience Like?
According to a former intern on Glassdoor, SpaceX is an inspiring place with a lot of smart people, while another previous intern points out the dynamic and exciting nature of the SpaceX workplace.
On Indeed, a former intern pointed out SpaceX was very trusting of them, providing them with lots of responsibilities. This intern enjoyed the responsibilities given to them and gave the company a four out of five-star rating.
Is It Hard to Get an Internship at SpaceX?
It can be challenging to get an internship at SpaceX. Although the company only requires basic and straightforward qualifications from applicants, there is a high volume when it comes to applicants, meaning that you are less likely to be chosen. Former interns recommend sending applications as often as positions come up to have the best chance of being chosen.
Additionally, to land an opportunity you must be enrolled in an accredited four-year university or college degree program. If you are applying for business operations or software positions, you should also be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited university or college. You will also qualify if you are within six months post-graduation.
The company also requires applicants to have a GPA score of 3.5 or higher. Hands-on experience with Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office, and strong interpersonal skills are also advantageous.
SpaceX Intern Salaries: How Much Does a SpaceX Internship Pay?
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a SpaceX intern is $62,159. This is significantly higher than the national average salary for interns. On average, interns earn a minimum salary of $40,103. It’s important to note that the average salary of a SpaceX intern varies. It depends on the position and location. Some locations pay interns a higher salary, such as the Hawthorne, California branch, for instance.
How to Apply for a SpaceX Internship: A Step-by-Step Guide
Applying to SpaceX may seem like an uphill task, but it’s rather straightforward. You can land an opportunity at the company through three simple steps. Use our step-by-step guide below to help you apply for an internship at SpaceX.
Step 1: Read through the Qualifications
Visit the SpaceX official internships page to view all the preferred qualifications. This will help you narrow down the position that’s best suited to you and improve your chances of landing the opportunity. There, you will find a list of different internship options to choose from.
The locations for SpaceX internships vary, so choose the most feasible location for you. You can select McGregor, Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg, Hawthorne, Seattle, or Washington. It’s also important to note that the site availability depends on the season.
Step 2: Online Application
Once you select the desired position, you will be required to fill out your personal information. The site also requires an attachment of your resume, cover letter, and a link to your LinkedIn profile. In your resume, you should include relevant work experience, your university name, degree, GPA, and hands-on extracurricular projects.
Since SpaceX receives a high volume of applications, which lengthens the candidate review process, it may take up to six months to be contacted. The company only contacts successful candidates.
Step 3: Interview
You should expect a series of phone interviews and various technical phone screens once you land an interview at SpaceX. Depending on the interview process, you will be required to go through a programming test, project, or quiz. You should be well prepared to articulate your best technical achievement and challenge. It’s important that you adequately prepare for the interview if you want to succeed.
The interviewees will also be asked to point out their individual contributions to the challenging projects they’ve issued. It’s important that you are conversant with SpaceX’s mission and its relation to your expertise.
How to Get an Internship at SpaceX: Internship Opportunities in 2022
Getting an internship at SpaceX is not as far-fetched as most college students assume. There are multiple opportunities in engineering and business operations that you can take advantage of to grow your career. Below we listed the top SpaceX internship opportunities in 2022.
Associate Engineer-Post Grad
- Location: Any SpaceX site
- Eligibility Requirements: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics
- Skill Requirements: Proficient technical skills, experience in applied engineering
- Length: 12 weeks
- Start Date: Summer 2022
This graduate program requires you to come up with creative solutions for aerospace challenges. Associate engineer opportunities entail more responsibility than an internship position. To undertake the responsibilities, you must be able to work collaboratively on actual space hardware development projects. The associate engineering program also expects you to have technical expertise from an internship, project, or laboratory.
Engineering Internship/CO-OP
- Location: Any SpaceX site
- Eligibility Requirements: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Maths, Physics
- Skill Requirements: Proficient technical skills, experience in applied engineering
- Length: 12 weeks
- Start Date: Summer 2022
This position will require you to work in conjunction with mentors and employees on different projects. To succeed in this position, you must be able to also work collaboratively with technicians, engineers, and managers. It’s important to commit to working consecutively for 12 weeks, full-time.
Software Engineering
- Location: Any SpaceX site
- Eligibility Requirements: Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree or graduate program
- Skill Requirements: Proficiency in software programming or development, experience in software coding using C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, and Python
- Length: 12 weeks
- Start Date: Summer 2022
One of the major requirements of software applicants is a full commitment to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). You should also be a citizen of the US and have practical experience in coding and software development.
As a software intern, you will need a background in computer architecture and networks to maneuver at the satellite development company. Plus, a good grasp of performance optimization, unit testing, and debugging will help you easily conduct your responsibilities.
Business Operations Internship
- Location: Any SpaceX site
- Eligibility Requirements: Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree or graduate program
- Skill Requirements: Proficiency in data analysis, human resource, finance, and government affairs, experience in corporate and business operations
- Length: 12 weeks
- Start Date: Summer 2022
Having job experience in corporate and business operations will set you apart in the application process of this internship program. This background will showcase that you are capable of working collaboratively in a team environment. It will also demonstrate your analytical and problem-solving skills that are crucial for a business operations role.
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How to Improve Your Chances of Getting a SpaceX Internship
SpaceX is a world-renowned company. This means getting an internship at the company may be relatively challenging compared to other companies. Here are three tips to help you improve your chances of getting a SpaceX Internship.
Attend a Coding Bootcamp
Being a tech-based company, you should consider attending an in-person or online coding bootcamp to land a job in the aerospace industry. The best coding bootcamps will help you learn in-demand knowledge and network with top tech companies. Mastering top programming languages such as C, Python, C++, or Java will pave the way into the space sector.
List Your Professional Certifications
When applying for a SpaceX internship program, you are required to submit a resume. Ensure you list any professional certifications you have acquired over the years. This will give you a cutting edge over other applicants and boost your chances of landing the position. You can list professional certifications such as Microsoft Technology Associate Developer, AWS Certified Developer-Associate, or even CompTIA Security+.
Update Your Social Media
Part of the online application requires you to submit a link to your LinkedIn profile. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure your social media is congruent with your professional experience, reflects well on you, and showcases your achievements.
Should I Apply for an Internship at SpaceX?
Yes, you should apply for an internship at SpaceX. Alignment between a company’s mission and employee motivation go hand-in-hand, and SpaceX has been known to foster this type of environment. This means you will enjoy an excellent work culture as an intern for your 12-week stay.
If you want an internship that pays higher than the national average and provides you with excellent opportunities, SpaceX should be your top priority. You will also enjoy the benefit of being mentored and working collaboratively with your peers, increasing your network, and gaining hands-on experience from experts.
SpaceX Internships FAQ
Yes, there is a summer SpaceX internship program. It runs from May to August. The program runs for 12 weeks, consecutively. There is also a spring program that runs from January to April, and a fall internship that runs from September to December.
Yes, SpaceX offers internship positions to international students. It is an equal opportunity employer. However, the company requires an applicant to be an official US citizen or permanent resident. It also requires you to abide by the country’s space technology export regulations.
Yes, you can get hired at SpaceX after completing your internship. If SpaceX team members were pleased with your productivity and character, there is a chance you could be considered for a permanent position.
No, you do not need a background in technology to land an internship at SpaceX. If you have a strong background in business operations, you can also get a job at SpaceX. You will need relevant experience in data analysis, human resources, finance, or government affairs.
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