SpaceX Software Engineering Internship Program: Launch Your Career into Orbit
The SpaceX Intern Program presents an unparalleled opportunity for students pursuing degrees in business, engineering, and software to gain hands-on experience at a pioneering company at the forefront of space exploration. Interns at SpaceX collaborate directly with accomplished engineers and business professionals, contributing to groundbreaking projects that are shaping the future of space travel.
What to Expect from a SpaceX Internship
A SpaceX internship is a challenging and rewarding experience. Interns are entrusted with significant responsibilities and often work extended hours, sometimes exceeding 40 hours per week and reaching 70 or 80 hours. This immersive environment provides interns with invaluable opportunities for growth and development.
Eligibility Requirements
The SpaceX Intern Program is open to students currently enrolled in a four-year accredited university program or a graduate program. Graduates are not eligible to apply. However, students within six months of graduation are eligible for internships.
Preferred Qualifications
SpaceX lists a set of preferred qualifications for applicants. Note that your application will not be disqualified if it does not meet these qualifications.
How to Apply
Interested students can apply for all SpaceX internships through SpaceX’s intern application portal at www.spacex.com/internships. SpaceX lists all available internship opportunities as well as early career engineering jobs, at www.spacex.com/internships. Note that SpaceX begins listing internship opportunities well in advance of their start date.
Read also: How to Get a SpaceX Internship
Can graduates apply for internships?
No, you cannot apply for an internship at SpaceX if you have already graduated. To apply, you must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. However, if you believe you would be a competitive applicant for a SpaceX internship, consider applying for an associate engineer position. Associate engineer positions are open to engineering graduates who have completed a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree from an accredited program within six months of the employment start date.
Compensation and Benefits
SpaceX interns are paid and may also receive school credit, subject to university approval. While SpaceX does not publicly disclose intern pay rates, Glassdoor estimates the median annual salary equivalent to $74,799 per year. Pay is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for a stipend to subsidize relocation costs, as well as access to our comprehensive medical coverage and a 401(k) retirement plan.
Additionally, students joining SpaceX through our internship program will receive the opportunity to attend presentations from company leaders, social and networking events, as well as professional and personal development trainings. Interns are also eligible for paid company holidays.
Housing and Transportation Support
Depending on the location and season, SpaceX may offer housing and transportation stipends to interns. For example, interns in Hawthorne, CA, might receive a housing stipend of $750-$1,000 per month and a transportation stipend of $300-$750 per month. Interns in Redmond, WA, might receive a housing stipend of $700-$3,000. In Texas, interns have received $2,700 for housing. Some internships also include perks like Lyft credits or free froyo.
The Competitive Landscape
SpaceX internships are highly sought after. SpaceX emphasizes a strong academic record and significant extracurricular projects in its hiring decisions. Many technical interns are actively involved in student-driven engineering groups and can showcase their work through these organizations.
Read also: Your SpaceX Job Guide
Application Tips
To increase your chances of securing an internship, submit your application early. Prepare for technical phone screens by thoroughly researching the position you are applying for. While SpaceX receives a high volume of applications and cannot respond to each one, persistence is encouraged. SpaceX encourages all applicants to continue to re-apply.
Departments and Roles for Software Engineering Interns
SpaceX offers software engineering internships across various departments, each focusing on critical aspects of the company's mission. Here's an overview of some key areas:
Application Software
The Application software team is currently creating and evolving systems to enable rapid build and reuse of Starship as well as designing the next generation manufacturing software that will be used in high throughput factories for Starlink. Other applications range from platforms that support concurrent streams of data from many always-on assets to manage the world’s largest satellite constellation to public facing systems where customers can join our Starlink network globally.
Dragon Software
As a software engineering intern on the Dragon Software team, you will develop, analyze and verify the mission critical software configurations that fly our Dragon Crewed and Cargo vehicles. You will partner cross-functionally to ensure software is configured to each mission's specifications and needs. You will be responsible for ensuring the vehicle behaves as expected, and troubleshooting flight software when necessary.
Falcon Software
As a software engineering intern on the Falcon Software team, you will develop, analyze and verify the mission critical software that flies our Falcon and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. You will be responsible for ensuring the vehicle behaves as expected, is adequately tested prior to launches, and troubleshoot flight software when necessary.
Read also: Your Guide to Nursing Internships
Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC)
The GNC teams at SpaceX support our Dragon, Falcon, Starlink, Starshield and Starship programs by developing highly reliable and performant GNC algorithms, simulations, tools, services, and dashboards.
Product Security
The Starlink Product Security team is seeking technical, passionate engineers to secure Starlink software and hardware. We are looking for people who see the big picture, prioritize accordingly, and are comfortable with working at different levels of abstraction.
Silicon Engineering
Designs, develops and qualifies our custom developed semiconductor solutions. The group partners with other engineering teams and industry partners to create innovative digital, analog and mixed-signal ASICs and FPGAs. This group develops a broad variety of chips in CMOS, BiCMOS, GaAs and GaN technologies, from large SoC's to mmWave RFICs. The work includes but is not limited to: system architecture, full flow IC development, RF and PCB development, custom packaging, integration & test, SW development and semiconductor qualification.
Starlink Software
The Starlink software team is solving challenges underpinning every aspect of SpaceX’s satellite internet project, and we’re looking for engineers to join us in building the next-generation networking technologies to direct data through an ever-changing network of satellites, ground stations, and users.
Starshield Software
The Starshield software team is building highly reliable in-space mesh networks, designing secure systems to guarantee access to space, designing next-generation communication and sensing software, and more. Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - we want our engineers to bring fresh, diverse ideas from all areas. The Starshield software team is involved in designing the vehicle systems at every phase of development and building software systems that are secure, reliable, and autonomous.
Starship Software
The Starship software team is responsible for building and testing the control systems, network, and operational software for Starship, the Super Heavy Booster, and our launch pads in Starbase. On this team, you will work closely with engineers across the company to prepare our vehicle for its first orbital flights and to lay the groundwork for future crewed flights and human lander programs.
The SpaceX Vision
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. SpaceX seeks extraordinary students to join us for software engineering roles in Summer 2026.
A Day in the Life of a Software Engineering Intern
As a software intern, you will work closely with your mentor and other employees who will help you apply your knowledge and grow your skills on projects that have a significant impact. You’ll also get to have some fun and network with other interns and employees through optional social and professional events. If you’ve demonstrated a commitment to academic success and motivation to apply your knowledge outside of the classroom, you are a great candidate!
tags: #spacex #software #engineering #internship #program
