Intuitive Machines internships in 2026: programs, pay, and how to apply

Intuitive Machines became the first private American company to land a spacecraft on the Moon in February 2024 with its Nova-C lander IM-1 "Odysseus." That mission put the company on the map, and their follow-up missions in 2025 and 2026 have expanded both their ambitions and their hiring needs. For students and early-career candidates, the internship program is the most direct entry point into a company doing genuinely historic work.

What Intuitive Machines interns actually work on

This is not a company where interns get sidelined to documentation or coffee runs. Intuitive Machines is a ~500-person company building lunar landers, autonomous systems, and space communications infrastructure. The teams are small enough that interns get placed directly on active flight programs.

In 2026, the primary programs driving intern assignments are:

Nova-C lunar lander program

Nova-C is the vehicle that made history, and it is still the company's flagship product. Intuitive Machines has multiple CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) missions under contract with NASA, with IM-2 and IM-3 in active development during 2026. Interns on this program might work on:

• Propulsion system testing and data analysis (LOX/methane engine)
• Avionics hardware integration and cable harness design
• Thermal analysis for lunar surface operations (extreme temperature swings between lunar day and night)
• GNC algorithm development for precision landing
• Payload integration and interface management

Lunar Data Networks

Intuitive Machines is building a communications relay network for cislunar space through its Khon-1 satellite program. This is essentially the beginning of a Moon-to-Earth internet backbone. Interns assigned to this area work on RF communications, antenna design, link budget analysis, and network architecture.

PRIME-1 and lunar resource prospecting

In partnership with NASA, Intuitive Machines is delivering drilling and resource prospecting instruments to the lunar south pole. Interns involved with these missions contribute to mechanical design, systems engineering, and scientific instrument integration.

Internship structure and logistics

Duration and timing

Intuitive Machines runs internships primarily in summer (May through August, approximately 12 weeks). Some co-op positions are available during fall and spring semesters, typically lasting 4-6 months. The summer program is larger and more structured, with more intern cohort activities.

Location

The vast majority of internships are at the Houston, TX headquarters near the NASA Johnson Space Center area. A small number of positions may be available at the company's Maryland facility, which focuses on space communications and is located near NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Houston interns should plan to arrange their own housing. The company does not provide housing, but the intern cohort typically coordinates shared housing in the Clear Lake or Webster areas near the office. Expect to pay $800-$1,200/month for a shared arrangement.

Compensation

Intuitive Machines pays interns hourly:

Level	Hourly rate	Monthly estimate (40 hrs/week)
Undergraduate (freshman/sophomore)	$22–$26/hr	$3,500–$4,200
Undergraduate (junior/senior)	$26–$30/hr	$4,200–$4,800
Graduate (MS/PhD)	$30–$35/hr	$4,800–$5,600

Benefits for interns are limited compared to full-time employees: no health insurance, no 401(k), no equity. However, the pay is competitive with other mid-size aerospace companies. For comparison, Lockheed Martin internships pay $22-$38/hr depending on degree level, and SpaceX internships pay $24-$38/hr.

Who should apply

Academic requirements

• Must be currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program (PhD candidates are also eligible)
• Engineering majors are the primary target: aerospace, mechanical, electrical, computer science, systems engineering
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 is typical, though not always a hard cutoff
• US citizenship or permanent residency is required for most positions due to ITAR restrictions

Skills that stand out

Intuitive Machines values the same thing most serious aerospace companies value: evidence that you have built things. Specific skills that improve your application:

• CAD proficiency — SolidWorks, CATIA, or NX. Intuitive Machines uses SolidWorks heavily.
• Programming — Python, MATLAB, C/C++. GNC and flight software internships require strong coding skills.
• Hands-on experience — University rocketry teams, CubeSat programs, AIAA design competitions, robotics teams. Anything where you assembled and tested hardware.
• Thermal/structural analysis — ANSYS, Thermal Desktop, Nastran. Analysis interns need FEA fundamentals.

What sets IM internships apart from larger companies

At Lockheed Martin or Northrop Grumman, interns often work on a small piece of a massive program and may never see the full system they are contributing to. At Intuitive Machines, the entire spacecraft is being built in one building. You can walk from the propulsion test area to the integration bay to the mission operations center in five minutes.

This means interns get exposed to the full development lifecycle in a way that is impossible at larger organizations. It also means the expectations are higher. You are not insulated from the pressure of a flight schedule.

Application process

Timeline

Applications for summer internships typically open in September-October of the preceding year and close by January-February. Offers go out on a rolling basis, so applying early matters. Do not wait until the deadline.

For summer 2026 internships, the application window opened in October 2025 and most positions were filled by February 2026. If you are reading this for summer 2027 planning, start preparing your application in September 2026.

How to apply

Apply through the Intuitive Machines careers page. You can also find current Intuitive Machines openings on the Zero G Talent job board by filtering for company.

Your application should include:

1. Resume (one page, focused on projects and skills, not coursework)
2. Cover letter (optional but recommended, mentioning specific programs you want to work on)

Interview process

The internship interview is typically two rounds:

1. Phone screen (30-45 minutes) with a recruiter or hiring manager. Covers your background, project experience, and interest in the company.
2. Technical interview (45-60 minutes) with engineers from the team you would join. Expect questions about your projects, fundamental engineering concepts, and how you approach open-ended problems.

The technical interview is not a quiz. Interviewers want to see how you think, not whether you have memorized textbook answers. If you worked on a rocketry team, expect deep questions about what you specifically designed, what failed, and how you fixed it.

Life in Houston as an IM intern

Houston is the heart of American human spaceflight. NASA Johnson Space Center is minutes from the Intuitive Machines office, and the broader Clear Lake area is home to dozens of aerospace companies. This means:

• Networking opportunities are everywhere. Aerospace meetups, JSC open houses, and industry events happen regularly.
• Other space interns are in the area simultaneously (NASA Pathways, Boeing Starliner, Axiom Space). The intern social scene is strong.
• Cost of living is significantly lower than Los Angeles or the Bay Area. A reasonable shared apartment in the Clear Lake area runs $700-$1,000/month per person.
• Houston summers are hot and humid. Plan accordingly.

Explore more opportunities

If you are interested in Intuitive Machines but want to explore other options as well, check out our broader coverage of Intuitive Machines careers and the full list of Intuitive Machines jobs.

For a wider view of space industry internship opportunities across 50+ companies, browse the Zero G Talent internship listings.