Entry-level space work
Space Jobs With No Experience
Measured from 300 distinct posted rates, across 19 employers, each as a year's pay (an hourly rate × 2,080 hours). 217 of the 517 listings open here post no pay at all.
These space industry roles say in their title that they are for someone starting out: internships and co-ops, apprenticeships and trainee roles, new graduate and entry-level roles, and the first level of a technician's or an engineer's ladder. 517 are open right now on 31 employers, including Muon Space, Inversion Space and Xona Space Systems. We pull them straight from the employers' careers sites every hour.
The work you can start without experience
Each discipline below has at least one starter vacancy open, ordered by how many. Click a count to list those vacancies, or a pay figure to see the postings behind it.
Build the hardware with your hands and run the lines that make it: assembly, integration and test technicians, machinists and CNC programmers, welders, composites and additive manufacturing, electrical and harness technicians, and the manufacturing engineers who design the process.
Design and analyze the physical vehicle: primary structures and tanks, mechanisms and deployables, thermal control, materials and processes, loads and stress analysis, aerodynamics and reentry, and the ground support equipment that fuels and handles a vehicle on the pad.
Tie the vehicle together and prove it works: systems engineering and architecture, requirements and verification, assembly, integration and test (AI&T), environmental testing in thermal vacuum and vibration, and test engineering for whole vehicles and their subsystems.
Build the software on the ground: mission and ground-segment software, data platforms, web and backend engineering, cloud and DevOps, IT and cybersecurity, and the factory and business systems a space company runs on.
Build the electrical heart of a rocket or satellite: flight computers and avionics boxes, power systems and batteries, harnesses, circuit boards, FPGAs and ASICs, and the electronics that must survive launch loads, vacuum and radiation.
Run the company and its missions: program and project management, scheduling and program control, business development and sales of launches, satellites and data, finance and accounting, contracts, legal and export control, people and recruiting, and communications.
Write the software that flies the vehicle and steer it: flight and embedded software, firmware, guidance, navigation and control, flight dynamics and orbit determination, and the autonomy that lets a spacecraft rendezvous, land or reenter on its own.
Design, build and test the engines that move rockets and spacecraft: liquid rocket engines and their turbomachinery, combustion devices and injectors, solid rocket motors, in-space thrusters and electric propulsion, and the fluids and cryogenic systems that feed them.
Keep the factory and the launch site supplied and running: procurement and buying, supplier management, planning and inventory, logistics, shipping and receiving, warehouses, and the facilities, maintenance and site security of plants, test sites and launch pads.
Make sure the hardware is right before it flies: quality engineering and inspection, mission and product assurance, reliability, nondestructive testing, supplier quality, and environment, health and safety on sites that handle propellants and high-energy systems.
Make spacecraft talk and sense: RF and antenna design, phased arrays, signal processing and modems, optical and laser communication terminals, and the payloads a satellite carries, from broadband and direct-to-phone links to radar and imaging instruments.
Get vehicles off the ground and keep them flying: launch site and pad operations, launch control and range, recovery of reusable stages, mission operations and flight control, satellite and constellation operations, and ground station operations around the clock.
Turn what spacecraft see into knowledge: remote sensing and Earth observation, synthetic aperture radar and optical imaging, geospatial and intelligence analysis, data science and machine learning on satellite data, and the scientists who design missions and instruments.
A typical pay band (the 25th percentile of what roles pay (the middle of each posted range, as a year's pay: an hourly rate counts at 2,080 hours, 40 a week for 52 weeks) to the 90th-percentile posted top) appears only once 3 or more distinct rates are published.
Employers hiring people starting out
The employers with open entry-level roles, with the pay those roles state. Sorted by the expected value of an application (acceptance odds times posted pay). Employers with a referral agreement get a boost in this order, which has no effect on the salary they offer.
Starter vacancies at Rocket Lab
Updated 29 Oct 2026, 16:01 UTCA few of our links carry a referral code. When one leads to a hire, the employer may pay us a fee; you pay nothing, and the salary on offer stays the same.
97 roles, page 1 of 2

Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Propulsion · Long Beach, CA, United States· todayDetails
$82,400/yr
Spacecraft Propulsion Components Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Propulsion · Long Beach, CA, United States· todayDetails
$82,400/yr
RF Phased Array Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · RF & Payloads · Long Beach, CA, United States· todayDetails
$88,000/yr
Harness Design Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Avionics · Long Beach, CA, United States· todayDetails
$88,000/yr
Electrical Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Avionics · Long Beach, CA, United States· todayDetails
$88,000/yr
Avionics Test Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Long Beach, CA, United States· todayDetails
$68,000/yr
Systems Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Long Beach, CA, United States· todayDetails
$82,400/yr
RF Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · RF & Payloads · Long Beach, CA, United States· todayDetails
$88,000/yr
Mechanical Development & Test Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Long Beach, CA, United States· todayDetails
$82,400/yr
Spacecraft GNC Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Flight Software · Littleton, CO, United States· 1d agoDetails
$81,000/yr
Electrical Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Avionics · Pasadena, CA, United States· 2d agoDetails
$82,400/yr
Ground Systems Engineering Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Stennis Space Center, MS, United States· 1w agoDetails


Integration & Test Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Long Beach, CA, United States· 2w agoDetails
$83,000/yr
Junior Manufacturing Engineer (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Technicians · Auckland, NZ· 2w agoDetails

Mechanical Technician I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Technicians · Toronto, CAN· 2w agoDetails
$39,000/yr
Ground Systems Engineering Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Stennis Space Center, MS, United States· 2w agoDetails

Export Compliance Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Programs & Business · Long Beach, CA, United States· 2w agoDetails
$25.00/hr
GNC Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Flight Software · Littleton, CO, United States· 2w agoDetails
$81,000/yr
Junior Radio Frequency Engineer - Test (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · RF & Payloads · Auckland, NZ· 2w agoDetails

Additive Manufacturing Technician I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Technicians · Long Beach, CA, United States· 2w agoDetails
$23.46/hr
HITL Engineer I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Long Beach, CA, United States· 3w agoDetails
$82,400/yr
Supply Chain Intern (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Long Beach, CA, United States· 3w agoDetails
$25.00/hr
RF Engineering Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · RF & Payloads · Long Beach, CA, United States· 3w agoDetails
$28.00/hr
Production Planner I (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Long Beach, CA, United States· 3w agoDetails
$63,000/yr
Government Operations Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Programs & Business · Washington, DC, United States· 3w agoDetails
$22.00/hr
Government Operations Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Programs & Business · Washington, DC, United States· 3w agoDetails
$22.00/hr
Flight Analysis Engineer I/II (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Launch & Ops · Littleton, CO, United States· 4w agoDetails
$100,000/yr
Thermal Engineering Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Mechanical · Long Beach, CA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$28.00/hr
R&D Engineering Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Mechanical · Albuquerque, NM, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$20.00/hr
R&D Engineering Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Mechanical · Albuquerque, NM, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$20.00/hr
Optical Engineering Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Tucson, AZ, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Business Development Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Programs & Business · Toronto, CAN· 1mo agoDetails
$52,000/yr
Systems Engineering Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Tucson, AZ, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Supply Chain Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Long Beach, CA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Supply Chain Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Silver Spring, MD, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$22.00/hr
People & Culture Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Programs & Business · Long Beach, CA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Business Development Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Programs & Business · Toronto, CAN· 1mo agoDetails
$52,000/yr
Talent Acquisition Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Programs & Business · Long Beach, CA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Test Engineering Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Stennis Space Center, MS, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Test Engineering Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Stennis Space Center, MS, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Test Engineering Intern - Manufacturing Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Systems & Test · Long Beach, CA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$28.00/hr
Supply Chain Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Middle River, MD, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$22.00/hr
Supply Chain Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Long Beach, CA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Security Analyst Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Albuquerque, NM, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$18.00/hr
Security Analyst Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Wallops Island, VA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$22.00/hr
Security Analyst Intern Summer 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Long Beach, CA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Security Analyst Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Albuquerque, NM, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$18.00/hr
Security Analyst Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Wallops Island, VA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$22.00/hr
Security Analyst Intern Spring 2027 (opens the job details)
Rocket Lab · Supply Chain · Long Beach, CA, United States· 1mo agoDetails
$25.00/hr
Before you apply
- No fees, ever. A real employer never charges you to apply, to interview or to start work. Anyone asking for money for training, equipment or a placement is not hiring you.
- Entry level is not no requirements. Internships and co-ops usually ask that you are enrolled in a degree, and entry-level engineering roles usually ask for the degree itself; technician and trade roles often ask for hands-on training or a certificate. Each posting says what it asks.
- Check who may apply. Many US space roles, internships included, are open only to a U.S. person under export-control rules (ITAR and EAR). Read each posting for the country, the citizenship and the site it asks for.
- Experienced roles pay more. Starter vacancies currently pay a median of $60.3k/yr against $132k/yr for every open role that states its pay.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you get a job in the space industry with no experience?
Yes. 517 open space industry roles say in their title that they are for someone starting out right now (that is 6% of all 8,039 vacancies we list), at 31 employers: internships, co-ops, apprenticeships, new graduate, entry-level and first-level roles. A title is a signal, not a promise: an internship usually asks that you are enrolled in a degree and an entry-level engineering role usually asks for the degree itself, so read each posting before you apply.
What is the pay for an entry-level job in the space industry?
Across 19 employers and 300 distinct published rates, starter roles sit at $58.2k–$116k/yr (the 25th percentile of what roles pay (the middle of each posted range, as a year's pay: an hourly rate counts at 2,080 hours, 40 a week for 52 weeks) to the 90th-percentile posted top), and the current median is $60.3k/yr. Experienced roles pay more: every open role on the board that states its pay has a live median of $132k/yr.
What kinds of space jobs can you start without experience?
The most entry-level roles are in Manufacturing & Technicians (86), Mechanical, Structures & Thermal (72), Systems, Integration & Test (60), Ground Software & IT (47). Every kind of work lists its open roles and what they pay.
Which space companies hire people starting out?
Rocket Lab (97), Blue Origin (78), SpaceX (53), Astranis (52), Relativity Space (44) list the most entry-level roles today, of 31 employers with at least one.
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen for an entry-level space job?
For many US roles, yes or close to it: work on rockets, spacecraft and their technical data falls under US export-control rules (ITAR and EAR), so many US space postings, internships included, state that they are open only to a U.S. person (a citizen, a permanent resident or a protected individual). Each posting says what it requires, and the country pages list the roles open in each country.
Do you have to pay to apply for a space job?
No. A real employer never charges you to apply, to interview or to start work. Anyone asking for money for training, equipment or a placement is not hiring you.
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The roles open in each country, and who hires there.