{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"dbb9886ef060c34732789fc2","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/dbb9886ef060c34732789fc2","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/dbb9886ef060c34732789fc2","title":"Project Engineering Development Program (3 Months - Path to Hire)","description":"A New Paradigm For Space Operations.\nWho We Are:\nSpace Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.\n\nOur Development Program:\nThis is a full-time, onsite program for three months at our headquarters in El Segundo, California.\n\nOur Development Program is a pathway to a career at Space Kinetic. We hire recent graduates who are eager to solve cutting edge technical problems and contribute to high consequence dual use space missions. Interns become part of our core technical, operations, and business teams, work on mission-critical projects, and are evaluated for long-term career opportunities based on performance, initiative, collaboration, and ownership. Outstanding interns may receive a full-time employment offer before or upon completion of the program. Qualified participants relocating for the program may be eligible for a housing stipend, and applications are accepted year-round based on hiring needs.\n\nOver the three-month program you are paired with a mentor, assigned one to three meaningful projects, and provide monthly progress updates to the Leadership team.\n\nWhat You’ll Do:\nAs a member of the Program Management team, you will help coordinate the execution of spacecraft development programs from concept through manufacturing and testing. You will partner with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and operations teams to track technical progress, maintain integrated schedules, identify program risks, and help ensure critical milestones are achieved. This role provides hands‑on experience supporting complex aerospace programs while developing the technical, organizational, and leadership skills required for a career in project engineering or technical program management.\n\nWhat It Takes:\n\nGraduate of a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Management, Physics, Operations Management, Business, or a related technical discipline.\n\nStrong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.\n\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams.\n\nExperience using Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word to organize data and communicate project status.\n\nStrong attention to detail when tracking schedules, documentation, and action items.\n\nAbility to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance.\n\nWhat We’d Love:\n\nExperience with project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Microsoft Planner, Jira, Asana, Smartsheet, or similar software.\n\nFamiliarity with engineering product development, manufacturing, or systems engineering environments.\n\nExperience coordinating projects, leading team initiatives, or managing competing priorities through academic, internship, research, or extracurricular work.\n\nExposure to configuration management, engineering documentation, or technical change management processes.\n\nUnderstanding of engineering schedules, project planning, risk management, or program execution principles.\n\nPassion for the commercial and government space industry.\n\nCuriosity for solving complex technical challenges and supporting multidisciplinary engineering teams.\n\nWhere You’ll Be:\n\nThe position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA.\n\nPhysical Requirements:\n\nAbility to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.\n\nCompensation:\nThis position is paid hourly based on the candidate’s highest completed degree at the time of hire:\n\nBachelor’s degree: $30 per hour\n\nMaster’s degree: $35 per hour\n\nPhD: $42 per hour\n\nITAR Requirements:\nTo conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here\n\nEqual Employment Opportunity:\nSpace Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.\n\nPay Range\nThe annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job‑related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.\n\n$30 — $42 USD\n\n#J-18808-Ljbffr","company":"Socket","rawCompany":"socket","city":"El Segundo","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":true,"createdAt":"2026-08-08T03:14:59.831Z","occupations":[{"code":"13-1082.00","title":"Project Management Specialists","slug":"project-management-specialists"},{"code":"17-2011.00","title":"Aerospace Engineers","slug":"aerospace-engineers"},{"code":"11-9041.00","title":"Architectural and Engineering Managers","slug":"architectural-and-engineering-managers"}],"industries":[{"code":"927110","title":"Space Research and Technology","slug":"space-research-and-technology"},{"code":"336414","title":"Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing","slug":"guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-manufacturing"},{"code":"336419","title":"Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing","slug":"other-guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-parts-and-auxiliary-equipment-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Project Engineering Development Program (3 Months - Path to Hire)","description":"A New Paradigm For Space Operations.\nWho We Are:\nSpace Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.\n\nOur Development Program:\nThis is a full-time, onsite program for three months at our headquarters in El Segundo, California.\n\nOur Development Program is a pathway to a career at Space Kinetic. We hire recent graduates who are eager to solve cutting edge technical problems and contribute to high consequence dual use space missions. Interns become part of our core technical, operations, and business teams, work on mission-critical projects, and are evaluated for long-term career opportunities based on performance, initiative, collaboration, and ownership. Outstanding interns may receive a full-time employment offer before or upon completion of the program. Qualified participants relocating for the program may be eligible for a housing stipend, and applications are accepted year-round based on hiring needs.\n\nOver the three-month program you are paired with a mentor, assigned one to three meaningful projects, and provide monthly progress updates to the Leadership team.\n\nWhat You’ll Do:\nAs a member of the Program Management team, you will help coordinate the execution of spacecraft development programs from concept through manufacturing and testing. You will partner with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and operations teams to track technical progress, maintain integrated schedules, identify program risks, and help ensure critical milestones are achieved. This role provides hands‑on experience supporting complex aerospace programs while developing the technical, organizational, and leadership skills required for a career in project engineering or technical program management.\n\nWhat It Takes:\n\nGraduate of a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Management, Physics, Operations Management, Business, or a related technical discipline.\n\nStrong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.\n\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams.\n\nExperience using Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word to organize data and communicate project status.\n\nStrong attention to detail when tracking schedules, documentation, and action items.\n\nAbility to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance.\n\nWhat We’d Love:\n\nExperience with project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Microsoft Planner, Jira, Asana, Smartsheet, or similar software.\n\nFamiliarity with engineering product development, manufacturing, or systems engineering environments.\n\nExperience coordinating projects, leading team initiatives, or managing competing priorities through academic, internship, research, or extracurricular work.\n\nExposure to configuration management, engineering documentation, or technical change management processes.\n\nUnderstanding of engineering schedules, project planning, risk management, or program execution principles.\n\nPassion for the commercial and government space industry.\n\nCuriosity for solving complex technical challenges and supporting multidisciplinary engineering teams.\n\nWhere You’ll Be:\n\nThe position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA.\n\nPhysical Requirements:\n\nAbility to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.\n\nCompensation:\nThis position is paid hourly based on the candidate’s highest completed degree at the time of hire:\n\nBachelor’s degree: $30 per hour\n\nMaster’s degree: $35 per hour\n\nPhD: $42 per hour\n\nITAR Requirements:\nTo conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here\n\nEqual Employment Opportunity:\nSpace Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.\n\nPay Range\nThe annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job‑related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.\n\n$30 — $42 USD\n\n#J-18808-Ljbffr","datePosted":"2026-08-08T03:14:59.831Z","dateModified":"2026-08-08T03:14:59.831Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Socket","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"El Segundo","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"dbb9886ef060c34732789fc2"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/dbb9886ef060c34732789fc2"}}