Open Systems Architecture Systems Engineer Intern

Job ID: 9848

Date Posted: October 20, 2026

Space Dynamics Laboratory’s (SDL’s) internship program provides an exciting opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to get involved with state-of-the art technologies in space-, airborne- and ground-based systems. With the support of engineers and mentors, interns are able to work on professional-level assignments that complement their academic studies. The program also includes training workshops, networking opportunities, and a variety of summer events and activities.

The Strategic Military Space Division is seeking an entry-level engineering intern to support the Battlestar program through Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) standards and interface control document (ICD) validation. Working alongside experienced engineers and mentors, the selected candidate will contribute to a cloud-based enterprise ground system supporting dynamic space operations. This position will be located in North Logan, UT. Interns will be paid a competitive hourly wage and assigned work appropriate to their experience and project needs.

This position has the potential of continued employment or transition to student/full-time employment requiring security clearance eligibility.

This internship is for the summer of 2027. The selected candidate will be expected to provide onsite support in North Logan, Utah, no later than Monday, June 7th, with availability for up to 12 weeks.

SDL internships are designed to bring talented students from across the nation together for unique, high-quality professional opportunities while expanding our candidate pool. Utah State University (USU) students have access to a variety of year-round opportunities with SDL through our Student Employment program. These positions provide USU students with valuable hands-on experience and professional development opportunities that can help them build their skills and resumes. USU students are not eligible for SDL internship positions and are encouraged to explore SDL's Student Employment opportunities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Helps review selected program interfaces and ICDs for completeness, consistency, and clarity
• Assists with mapping interface descriptions to applicable MOSA principles and program-defined interface standards
• Creates checklists and traceability tables for interface requirements, data definitions, and verification criteria
• Identifies potential ambiguities, missing information, or mismatches across interface artifacts for engineer review
• Documents recommendations and presents findings to the systems engineering and integration teams

Requirements

• Introductory knowledge of systems engineering, system interfaces, or technical standards
• Ability to read and compare engineering specifications, diagrams, and technical documents
• Strong attention to detail and ability to organize findings in spreadsheets or structured documents
• Ability to work collaboratively with engineers and other interns and independently with appropriate guidance
• Strong initiative, attention to detail, and written and verbal communication skills
• Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance

Education

• Must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in systems, aerospace, mechanical, electrical, computer engineering, computer science, or a closely related field
• Entry-level applicants are welcome; relevant coursework or academic projects may satisfy technical experience requirements
• 3.0 GPA minimum is required

Desired Qualifications

• Coursework or projects involving system architecture, interfaces, APIs, or data schemas
• Awareness of MOSA concepts, interface control processes, or requirements verification
• Experience with modeling tools, requirements tools, or technical documentation reviews

SDL delivers advanced multi-domain solutions to protect national security and enable scientific discovery. Our expertise in satellites, sensors and instruments, ground systems and data processing, and autonomous systems plays a critical role in missions supporting NASA and the Department of Defense. Join our team of engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals in our seventh decade of delivering mission success.

At SDL, we strive to uphold a culture of respect, collaboration, empowerment, and accountability. We listen with open minds, seek to understand diverse perspectives, and engage in thoughtful dialogue. We work together by sharing knowledge, involving others, and offering support. We trust and empower our team members to take ownership, act with integrity, and be accountable. Above all, we deliver on our commitments to each other and to our mission partners.

The application window for this position is expected to remain open for approximately 7 days; however, it may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications promptly.

For questions, assistance, or accommodation with the application process or the DoD SkillBridge program, please contact employment@sdl.usu.edu.