Launch Your Career: Exploring Internship Opportunities at ABL Space Systems
ABL Space Systems, founded in 2017 by SpaceX and Morgan Stanley veterans, is revolutionizing the small satellite launch industry. The company focuses on developing reliable, rapidly deployable, and cost-effective launch vehicles. ABL prides itself on a work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration, offering interns invaluable experiences. Interns are integral to the team, tackling challenging work and contributing directly to ABL's mission of making space access simple and routine. The company seeks ambitious individuals eager to contribute to the future of space exploration.
ABL Space Systems: Redefining Space Access
ABL Space Systems is committed to building a launch system characterized by reliability and efficiency, avoiding unnecessary complexity. The company's core mission is to make reaching space simple, efficient, and routine. ABL values a hands-on approach, where team members are deeply involved in all aspects of the launch process.
Internship Opportunities: A Gateway to the Space Industry
ABL Space Systems offers internships across various disciplines, providing students and recent graduates with opportunities to gain practical experience in the aerospace industry. These internships are designed to be challenging and rewarding, allowing interns to contribute meaningfully to the company's goals. ABL's internships are a launchpad for aspiring engineers and designers.
Creative Team Internship
The Creative Team at ABL Space Systems plays a crucial role in shaping the company's narrative, both internally and externally. They utilize various mediums, including photography, videography, copywriting, and graphic design, to communicate ABL's vision and achievements. The Creative Team seeks an intern with a strong design sensibility who enjoys problem-solving and thrives in a fast-paced environment with considerable autonomy.
Responsibilities and Expectations
Creative Team interns are expected to contribute to various projects, from developing marketing materials to documenting launch events. They should be prepared to work across different mediums and collaborate with other team members to achieve common goals. The role demands a proactive and resourceful individual ready to tackle diverse tasks.
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Qualifications
- Basic Qualifications: Candidates should be currently enrolled or recent graduates of a design discipline. Experience with design software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Affinity Designer 2, and Davinci Resolve is essential. Proficiency in DSLR photography and videography is also required. A design portfolio is requested to showcase the candidate's skills.
- Preferred Skills & Experience: A strong sense of design and writing skills are highly valued. Experience with motion graphics design and/or 3D modeling software is a plus. Familiarity with video and multimedia production is also beneficial. An interest in space, science fiction, and technology is preferred.
What ABL Looks For in a Creative Team Intern
ABL values thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, and organization. The company seeks individuals who approach challenges intentionally, are adept at problem-solving, and can manage multiple projects simultaneously. Expertise in at least one of the focus areas mentioned above, combined with a desire to expand one's skill set, is highly desirable. The ideal candidate is willing to work across projects and get their hands dirty, with tasks ranging from pitching stories to painting rockets.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
The internship requires in-office work and may include travel to test site and launch site environments. Interns should be able to sit or stand for extended periods, lift up to 30 pounds with reasonable accommodations, and communicate effectively in person, by phone, and by video conference.
Engineering Internship
ABL Space Systems' Engineering Internship offers hands-on experience in developing launch vehicles for the small satellite industry. Interns work alongside experienced engineers, contributing to the design, analysis, and testing of critical systems. This internship is an excellent opportunity for aspiring engineers to gain practical skills and make a real impact on the future of space exploration.
Responsibilities and Expectations
Engineering interns at ABL Space Systems are entrusted with meaningful responsibilities and are expected to contribute to real-world projects. They are held accountable to other engineers and leadership, fostering a culture of ownership and collaboration. Interns are encouraged to take initiative and contribute their ideas to the team.
Qualifications
- Basic Qualifications: Candidates must be currently enrolled in any engineering discipline at a four-year accredited university. A minimum of 3 months of experience in the development of aircraft, missile, spacecraft, or similar electronic/avionic systems is required (including internship, laboratory, academic, and personal/team project experience).
- Preferred Skills and Experience: 6+ months of experience in the development of aircraft, missile, spacecraft, or similar electronic/avionic systems is preferred. A GPA of 3.5 or greater is also desirable. Experience utilizing one or more of the following CAD design software is beneficial: NX, CATIA, CREO/PRO-E.
Additional Requirements
Interns must be able to work full-time, on-site at an ABL location, for 12 consecutive weeks, typically beginning in May, June, or July. They must also provide their own transportation.
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What ABL Looks For in an Engineering Intern
ABL seeks critical thinkers who understand the "why" behind design decisions, operational events, and test outcomes. The company values individuals who can deal with ambiguity, define their own pathway to an objective, and take end-to-end ownership of their projects.
Compensation and Benefits
ABL Space Systems values its interns and offers competitive compensation. The pay rate for interns is $25 per hour. This rate is believed to be a fair and reasonable compensation for the role at the time of posting. The actual pay rate may vary based on qualifications and experience and is subject to change in the future.
Diversity and Inclusion
ABL Space Systems is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status. ABL does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where it operates.
Real-World Success: UCI Alumni Shine in Aerospace
The success of individuals like Christopher Arauzo, a mechanical engineering senior at UCI and Matthew Isakowitz Fellow, highlights the opportunities available in the aerospace industry. Arauzo's thermal engineering internships at Millenium Space Systems, Vast Space, and Boeing demonstrate the value of gaining practical experience early in one's career. His advice to students interested in internships is to get involved in research or senior design projects as soon as possible. Other UCI alumni, such as Alessandro Verniani and Amy Huynh, have also achieved success in the space industry, working at Rocket Lab and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, respectively.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the ABL Space Systems careers website to explore current internship openings and submit their applications. Be sure to highlight your relevant skills, experience, and passion for space exploration in your application materials.
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