Guidance Navigation and Controls Intern Summer 2026 - Full-time / Part-time

div class="content-intro"pstrongABOUT ROCKET LAB/strong/p pRocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access space. The rockets and satellites we build, and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.nbsp;nbsp;/p pOur Electron rocketnbsp;has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.nbsp;/p div style="padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;"iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1028198769?h=22add6027eamp;badge=0amp;autopause=0amp;player_id=0amp;app_id=58479" width="" height=""/iframe/div/divpAs a Guidance Navigation and Controls Intern based at Rocket Lab’s site in Littleton, Colorado, you will have the opportunity to support the GNC Team in designing and implementing algorithms that we'll use on upcoming missions. The Space Systems GNC team at Rocket Lab does it all - from low-Earth orbit, to Lunar, to interplanetary. We work with the mechanical, systems, flight software, and operations teams to design, build, and ultimately fly spacecraft with a range of challenging GNC requirements./p pstrongWHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO/strong/p ul liAs an intern, you will work closely with your mentor and other employees within the department to apply your knowledge and grow your skills both technically and professionally/li liWork with a fast-paced group of professionals to apply engineering and industry concepts to solve real challenges/li liAttend frequent 1:1’s with mentors and supervisors to facilitate success and learning while providing progress updates/li liEnjoy tech talks and network with other interns and employees through social and professional events/li /ul pstrongYOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS/strong/p pIdeal candidates will thrive in ambiguity and are excited to work in small, high-performing teams that are focused on continued learning and growth. Success in this position will be measured by the knowledge and experience you bring to the role, your ability to lead development projects without supervision, and your ability to successfully collaborate across teams to deliver results./p ul liMust be enrolled in a bachelor’s, master's or doctorate degree program in Aerospace, Computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or related field and have at least one semester of school remaining post internship/li liGPA of 3.0 or above/li li3+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable)/li /ul pstrongTHESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE/strong/p ul liGPA of 3.5 or above/li li6+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable)/li liProficiency in programming languages such as MATLAB, Simulink, Python, and C/C++ for simulation and algorithm development./li liKnowledge of navigation systems, including GPS, inertial navigation systems (INS), and sensor fusion techniques./li liUnderstanding of the principles of flight dynamics/li /ul pstrongADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS/strong/p ul liAble to work full-time, on-site for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks beginning May or June 2026.nbsp;/li /ul pstrongCOMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS/strong/p ul liPay Range CO: $27.00 USD Hourly/li liYou may be eligible for a stipend to subsidize relocation costs/li /ul pnbsp;/pdiv class="content-pay-transparency"div class="pay-input"div class="description"pThe expected salary range for the position is displayed in accordance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience.nbsp;brbrspan class="TextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8" lang="EN-NZ" data-contrast="auto"span class="NormalTextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8"Base salary is only one part of Rocket Lab’s compensation package for this role.nbsp;/spanspan class="NormalTextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8"You may be eligible for company stock, or cash incentives, andnbsp;/spanspan class="NormalTextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8"can/spanspan class="NormalTextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8" purchase discounted stock through Rocket Lab’s Employee Stock Purchase Program. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid vacation/spanspan class="NormalTextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8",/spanspan class="NormalTextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8" holidays/spanspan class="NormalTextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8", and sick leave/spanspan class="NormalTextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8"; paid parental leave; /spanspan class="NormalTextRun SCXW27930670 BCX8"and other discounts and perks.nbsp;/span/spanspan class="EOP SCXW27930670 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{quot;201341983quot;:0,quot;335559739quot;:0,quot;335559740quot;:240}"nbsp;/span/p/divdiv class="title"Base Pay Range (CO Only)/divdiv class="pay-range"span$27/spanspan class="divider"mdash;/spanspan$27 USD/span/div/div/divdiv class="content-conclusion"pnbsp;/p pstrongspan data-contrast="auto"WHAT TO EXPECT/span/strongspan data-ccp-props="{quot;134233117quot;:false,quot;134233118quot;:false,quot;201341983quot;:0,quot;335551550quot;:1,quot;335551620quot;:1,quot;335559685quot;:0,quot;335559737quot;:0,quot;335559738quot;:0,quot;335559739quot;:0,quot;335559740quot;:240}"nbsp;/span/p pspan data-contrast="auto"We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.nbsp;nbsp;/spanspan data-ccp-props="{quot;201341983quot;:0,quot;335559739quot;:0,quot;335559740quot;:240}"nbsp;/span/p pImportant information:/p pspan style="text-decoration: underline;"strongFOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:/strong/span/p pemTo conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees 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. Learn more about ITAR a href="https://urldefense.us/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.pmddtc.state.gov_-3Fid-3Dddtc-5Fkb-5Farticle-5Fpage-26sys-5Fid-3D24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987amp;d=DwMFogamp;c=N_fLK0KxmM34zjMadXHMx_SQYmXWO3FX0MRVr1hBcn4amp;r=prjnch9sxomG2ahCicblmM3m-FuPObepspoR1qvWq2Iamp;m=ExC44mBPk2emo4Fr0xPSGZN0UraQ1ZtkDTxwR7iWw5rixcFQb-Wjlv7lJcecLldzamp;s=0lfm4LyRtFwK220WHBK11DGHWSVvVhQEcfa5G_2Nf18amp;e="here/a./em/p pemRocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training./em/p pemApplicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at a href="mailto:g.biow@rocketlabusa.com"g.biow@rocketlabusa.com./aThis dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days./em/p pnbsp;/p pspan style="text-decoration: underline;"strongFOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:/strong/span/p pemFor security reasons background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant.nbsp; These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.nbsp;/em/p pemUnder these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.nbsp; For more information on these Regulations, click herenbsp;a class="fui-Link ___m14voj0 f3rmtva f1ern45e f1deefiw f1n71otn f1q5o8ev f1h8hb77 f1vxd6vx f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1hu3pq6 f11qmguv f19f4twv f1tyq0we f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fqv5qza f1vmzxwi f1o700av f13mvf36 f9n3di6 f1ids18y fygtlnl f1deo86v f12x56k7 f1iescvh ftqa4ok f50u1b5 fs3pq8b f1hghxdh f1tymzes f1x7u7e9 f1cmlufx f10aw75t fsle3fq" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/23/2020-00574/international-traffic-in-arms-regulations-us-munitions-list-categories-i-ii-and-iii" target="_blank"ITAR Regulations./a/em/p pnbsp;/p/div