Intern, Structural Design Eng

Virgin Galactic internships are for in-person experiences. Every year, we help connect students from colleges around the country to the love, wonder and awe created by space travel.  Guided by our values, “Safety Above All”, we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions.

We are excited for you to learn more about Summer Internships at Virgin Galactic!

Internships at Virgin Galactic are typically a 12-week summer experience and a prime opportunity for students to have real hands-on experience that helps push their careers by developing some in-demand skills.

Virgin Galactic interns are empowered to complete real-life projects and will have the opportunity to apply their studies and skills to significant projects while bringing their unique selves to the company.  Our Interns work on diverse teams, solving real-world problems, while having fun along the way. This is your chance to bring ideas and solutions to life while working on cutting-edge technologies on our spaceflights.

For approximately 12 weeks you will be immersed in our incredible culture and work on challenging and meaningful projects that directly relate to company goals. The hands-on experience you will gain along with opportunities to engage with our exceptional executives, engineers, and other professionals will be incredibly valuable in shaping the foundation for your future.

This internship is in our Spaceport America, Truth or Consequences, NM Gateway to Space location, and requires you to be onsite Monday through Thursday, with a remote option on Friday depending on the needs of the department. 

Technical Operations is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of our aircraft for flight operations; this includes being hands-on with the air vehicles to support the maintenance team to resolve any new aircraft issues and to ensure that the aircraft are safe to perform their required mission. Technical Operations Engineering provides Engineering support to ensure timely resolution of issues and verification of flight worthiness for continued use.

Responsibilities   

This position is with the Technical Operations, Structural Design Engineering group. The Tech Ops Engineering Team is looking for an intern who must be enthusiastic with high energy and have a strong willingness to learn.

• Work with other Engineers in the group to evaluate aircraft performance of systems and flight characteristics to improve our Post flight analysis program
• Learn about Aircraft Structures, Loads, and interface to mechanical systems including Landing Gear, Flight Controls, Hydraulic and Pneumatic Aircraft systems
• Assist in Determining correct repair and replacement parts for existing structures
• Interface with maintenance planning to order correct hardware and install
• Interface with Stress Engineering and Mechanical Systems Engineering to assure seamless transition of Engineering direction to the maintenance department. Provide review and insight into design decisions
• Work collaboratively to achieve goals and/or complete assigned tasks 

Required Skills and Experience 

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree (required) in Mechanical or Aerospace engineering or similar titles.

• Basic understanding of heat transfer and thermodynamic concepts.
• Understand how to use data to drive decisions
• Demonstrate willingness to adjust thinking and behavior 
• Must have at least one additional quarter/semester of school remaining following the completion of the internship.
• Ability to communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas 
• Development of both technical skills as well as leadership qualities.
• Strong interest in commercial space flight

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The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $42,640.00–$56,680.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits

Who We Are

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. We are making the dream of space travel a reality, delivering spaceflight at an unprecedented frequency, with the development of next generation space vehicles. 

Export Requirements 
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list