About the opportunity
United Launch Alliance offers a competitive summer intern program designed to provide students with real-world work experience and exposure to the space launch industry. Interns generate and share new ideas while delivering work products that impact ULA missions, methodologies, and processes. Approximately 100 positions are available annually across engineering and business disciplines. The 10-week program runs from May to August, with interns evaluated for potential future employment opportunities with ULA after graduation.
Salary and benefits
- Paid hourly wages for actual time worked
- One-time housing and transportation allowance if permanent home and campus are more than 50 miles away from the assigned location
- Real-world work experience on space launch missions, methodologies, and processes
- Priority placement for future summer internships for returning interns
- Evaluation for potential full-time employment opportunities with ULA after graduation
Who can apply?
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.90 or higher on a 4.00 scale at the time of a job offer
- Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or permanent resident with legal right to work in the U.S.); visa sponsorships such as F-1 or H-1B are not offered
- Must have completed at least the freshman year in college and plan to return to school in the fall after completing the internship
- Ability to complete the 10-week internship program
- Must have access to motorized transportation for most ULA facilities
- For engineering roles: pursuing a B.S. or M.S. primarily in aerospace, electrical, mechanical engineering, or computer science, as well as technical engineering and science degrees like industrial, physics, mathematics, materials, welding, and chemistry depending on needs
- For business roles: studying areas such as Finance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Communications, Government Relations, and Information Technology
Required documents
- Cover letter
- Resume
When to apply
- June to August: Create a profile and upload a cover letter and resume in the ULA Intern Career Center
- Tuesday following Labor Day (September 8, 2026): Intern job postings open in the ULA Intern Career Center; apply immediately as positions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis
- September to December: Interviews and offers are conducted
- December to May: Coordination of required preparations prior to arrival
- May: Summer Intern Program begins
- August: 10-week internships are completed
How to apply
- Create a profile and upload a cover letter and resume in the ULA Intern Career Center
- Monitor the ULA Intern Career Center after Labor Day for the full list of open summer intern opportunities and submit applications right away
Additional information
- Most ULA employees and interns work a 9/80 schedule, which consists of nine hours a day Monday through Thursday, eight hours on the working Friday, and every other Friday off
- Overtime hours must be directed and preapproved by the intern's manager
- Internship locations include Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (Florida), Decatur (Alabama), Denver (Colorado), Pueblo (Colorado), Vandenberg Space Force Base (California), and Washington, D.C.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Students in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, or related technical and business fields seeking hands-on experience in the space industry
- Undergraduate and graduate students who meet the U.S. Person requirement and hold a minimum 2.90 cumulative GPA
- Candidates looking for a structured 10-week summer program that includes mentorship, business goals, and a direct pipeline to post-graduation employment
What should you think carefully about?
- Applicants must be U.S. Persons, as visa sponsorships are not available
- Positions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, requiring prompt application after job postings open in September
- Relocation or independent travel arrangements are necessary unless qualifying for the 50-mile distance housing and transportation allowance
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This program fits undergraduate and master's students aiming to build high-impact technical or corporate experience within aerospace engineering or business operations. It provides a solid stepping stone for those targeting early career placement in the space launch sector through structured mentorship and potential return offers.
Our take
Eligible U.S. students pursuing engineering or business degrees who want practical exposure to rocket manufacturing and launch operations should apply immediately when positions open after Labor Day. International students requiring visa sponsorship are not eligible.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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