Summer 2027 Guide
Overview
It's March 2026. No Summer 2027 aerospace internship applications have opened yet. That's exactly why you should be reading this now.
The biggest lesson from the Summer 2026 cycle: the most competitive programs — Boeing Engineering, AFRL Wright Scholar, SpaceX, Blue Origin — open in August–October and close before most students even start looking. By January it's already too late for many of them. By March, the best positions are long gone.
This guide gives you the full projected timeline for Summer 2027, based on established patterns from the 2026 cycle, so you can build your resume, develop skills, and be ready to apply the moment applications open.
Your application season starts in August 2026, not January 2027. You have five months to prepare. Use them.
For detailed program descriptions, pay data, and lessons from last cycle, see the Summer 2026 Guide.
Projected Program Dates
Every date below is projected based on the Summer 2026 application cycle. Programs follow consistent annual patterns, but always verify on official sites when applications open.
| Program | Level | Expected Open | Expected Close | Pay | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing Engineering | College | Aug 2026 | ~Oct 2026 | $25–45/hr | US Person (ITAR) |
| SpaceX | College | Sep 2026 | Rolling | $28–45/hr | US Person (ITAR) |
| Blue Origin | College | Sep 2026 | Rolling | $25–46/hr | US Person (ITAR) |
| Northrop Grumman | College | Sep–Nov 2026 | Rolling | $15–46/hr | US citizen (clearance) |
| RTX / Raytheon | College | Sep 2026 | ~Mar 2027 | $25–45/hr | US citizen (clearance) |
| AFRL Wright Scholar | HS juniors/seniors | Oct 10, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | Paid (stipend) | US citizen only |
| AFRL Scholars | College + upper HS | Oct 2026 | ~Jan 9, 2027 | Stipend | US citizen only |
| NASA OSTEM (spring) | College | ~Oct 2026 | ~Nov 2026 | Stipend | US citizen |
| Lockheed Martin HS | HS (16+) | ~Nov 2026 | ~Dec 2026 | Paid | US citizen (clearance) |
| NSF REU sites | College | ~Nov 2026 | ~Feb–Mar 2027 | ~$600/week | US citizen or perm resident |
| NASA SEES | HS sophomores/juniors | ~Dec 2026 | ~Feb 22, 2027 | $2K fee (aid available) | US citizen |
| NASA OSTEM (summer) | College | ~Jan 2027 | ~Late Feb 2027 | Stipend | US citizen |
| NASA Pathways | College | ~Late Feb 2027 | ~Late Feb 2027 (3–5 day window) | GS scale + benefits | US citizen |
| FAA Gateways | College | ~Jan 2027 | ~Late Feb 2027 | GS scale | US citizen |
| Anduril | College | Rolling year-round | Rolling | $30–34/hr | US Person (ITAR) |
| Shield AI | College | Rolling year-round | Rolling | ~$61/hr (software) | Likely US citizen |
| Skydio | College | Rolling year-round | Rolling | $47–58/hr | Varies by role |
| Joby Aviation | College | Rolling year-round | Rolling | $22–31/hr | Work auth (no ITAR) |
| Archer Aviation | College | Rolling year-round | Rolling | $20–35/hr | Work auth (no ITAR) |
| L3Harris | College | Rolling year-round | Rolling | $14–38/hr | Varies by role |
All dates marked "~" are projected based on the Summer 2026 cycle. Confirm on official program sites once applications open. The AFRL Wright Scholar dates (Oct 10 — Jan 10) are confirmed on the AFRL Scholars website.
Month-by-Month Timeline
Your roadmap from now through the end of application season.
| Month | What Opens / Closes | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Mar–May 2026 | Nothing open yet — this is your prep window | Build resume, start projects, learn tools (SolidWorks, MATLAB, Python), join clubs, enter competitions (TARC, AIAA DBF, FIRST). Set calendar reminders for Aug–Oct. |
| Jun–Jul 2026 | Summer — build experience | Work on personal projects, attend EAA AirVenture, do online courses, contribute to open-source. Build the portfolio that makes your fall applications stand out. |
| Aug 2026 | Boeing engineering tracks start posting | Create accounts on Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, L3Harris career portals. Final resume polish. Apply to Boeing immediately — it closes fast. |
| Sep 2026 | SpaceX, Blue Origin, Anduril start posting summer roles. RTX, Northrop Grumman postings accumulate. | Apply to SpaceX and Blue Origin early — rolling basis means early applicants have the best shot. Submit to all rolling programs. |
| Oct 2026 | AFRL Wright Scholar opens Oct 10. AFRL Scholars opens. NASA OSTEM spring session. Boeing deadline approaching. | Apply to Wright Scholar immediately if eligible (HS). Submit Boeing Engineering before it closes (~Oct). Start AFRL Scholars application. |
| Nov 2026 | Lockheed Martin HS program opens (~Nov 3). NSF REU sites begin posting. | Apply to LM HS program. Browse NSF REU sites at nsf.gov. Continue submitting to rolling programs. |
| Dec 2026 | LM HS program closes (~Dec 19). NASA SEES applications open. | Finish LM application. Start NASA OSTEM and SEES applications. Holiday break = application time. |
| Jan 2027 | AFRL Wright Scholar closes Jan 10. AFRL Scholars closes ~Jan 9. FAA Gateways opens. | Submit AFRL applications before deadline. Prepare NASA OSTEM summer application. Apply to FAA Gateways. Apply to NSF REU sites. |
| Feb 2027 | NASA OSTEM summer deadline (~late Feb). NASA SEES deadline (~Feb 22). FAA Gateways deadline (~late Feb). NASA Pathways (very short window). | Submit all NASA and FAA applications. Have your USAJobs resume ready — the Pathways window may be only 3–5 days. Final NSF REU submissions. |
| Mar 2027 | NSF REU final deadlines (~Mar 15). Last rolling positions fill. | Final REU applications. Follow up on pending applications. If you haven't landed anything, defense tech startups (Anduril, Shield AI, Skydio) and eVTOL companies (Joby, Archer) still accept rolling applications. |
Set calendar reminders now. Open your phone and set reminders for Aug 1 ("Boeing + career portals"), Sep 1 ("SpaceX + Blue Origin"), Oct 10 ("AFRL Wright Scholar"), Nov 1 ("LM HS program"), and Jan 1 ("NASA OSTEM + FAA Gateways"). You will forget if you don't.
What to Do Right Now (Spring 2026)
You have five months before applications open. That's enough time to meaningfully improve your candidacy. Here's what actually moves the needle.
Build Your Resume
- Start a technical project and finish it. A rocketry project, a drone build, a CubeSat subsystem, a CFD simulation, a flight controller — something tangible with measurable results. "Designed and built" beats "interested in" every time.
- Enter a competition. TARC (Team America Rocketry Challenge), AIAA Design/Build/Fly, FIRST Robotics, Science Olympiad, CyberPatriot. Competition results are the single strongest signal on a high school or early college resume.
- Join or start a club. Rocketry club, AIAA student chapter, drone racing, robotics team. Leadership roles matter — but active participation in a technical team matters more than being "vice president" of a dormant club.
- Learn the tools employers expect. SolidWorks or Fusion 360 for CAD. MATLAB or Python for analysis. Git for version control. LaTeX for technical writing. These are table stakes at SpaceX, Blue Origin, and the primes.
Build Your Knowledge
- Take online courses. MIT OpenCourseWare (16.001 Unified Engineering), Coursera aerospace specializations, or Khan Academy for prerequisite math and physics. Free and self-paced.
- Get ahead in math. Calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations are prerequisites for most engineering internships. The further ahead you are, the more competitive you are.
- Read the landscape. Follow aerospace news (Ars Technica, SpaceNews, Aviation Week). Understand what each company actually builds. Reference specific programs and missions in your applications — generic enthusiasm is invisible.
Prepare Your Application Materials
- Write a one-page resume now — even if you think you have nothing to put on it. Projects, coursework, competitions, relevant skills, and work experience (any kind). Have someone review it.
- Create a USAJobs account and federal resume. NASA Pathways and FAA Gateways require federal-format resumes, which are longer and more detailed than standard resumes. Build this months in advance — the application windows are days, not weeks.
- Identify references. Teachers, professors, mentors, or employers who can speak to your technical ability and work ethic. Ask them now, not the night before a deadline.
New for 2027: Anduril AI Grand Prix
Anduril launched the AI Grand Prix — an autonomous drone racing competition with spring 2026 qualifiers leading to fall finals. Top performers get direct hiring consideration for Anduril internships and full-time roles. If you're into autonomous systems and computer vision, this is a new pathway worth watching at anduril.com.
Pay Landscape
Expected compensation ranges for Summer 2027, based on 2026 data. Actual rates may adjust slightly.
| Category | Expected Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Defense tech startups (Shield AI, Skydio) | $47–61/hr | Highest in aerospace. Software roles at the top. |
| SpaceX, Blue Origin | $25–46/hr | Blue Origin provides housing support. |
| Prime contractors (Boeing, LM, NG, RTX) | $15–45/hr | Wide range by role and level. Engineering roles $25+. |
| Anduril | $30–34/hr | Lower cash than other defense tech, but strong brand. |
| eVTOL (Joby, Archer) | $20–35/hr | No ITAR — open to non-citizens with work auth. |
| NSF REU | ~$600/week (~$15/hr) | Plus housing and travel stipend at most sites. |
| NASA OSTEM | Stipend (varies) | $8,200 undergrad / $9,900 grad per session. No housing. |
| NASA Pathways | GS scale + benefits | Federal pay with retirement, health insurance, leave. |
| FAA Gateways | GS scale | Converts to permanent employment after 640 hours. |
| AFRL Wright Scholar / Scholars | Stipend | Modest pay but premier research experience. |
The trade-off: The highest-paying internships (defense tech startups) are in expensive cities without housing support. A $61/hr Shield AI internship in San Diego is excellent, but factor in $2,000+/month rent. Blue Origin's housing support and AFRL's on-base location can make lower-paying programs financially comparable.
Application Strategy
The acceptance rates at top programs are brutal — NASA OSTEM gets tens of thousands of applications, SpaceX is legendarily selective, and Wright Scholar accepts a handful from hundreds. The math is simple: if any individual program has a 5–10% acceptance rate, you need to apply to 15–20 programs to have a reasonable chance of landing one.
Spread Across Categories
- Government: NASA OSTEM, AFRL Wright Scholar or Scholars, FAA Gateways, NASA SEES
- Prime contractors: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, L3Harris
- Startups / NewSpace: SpaceX, Blue Origin, Anduril, Shield AI, Skydio, Stoke Space, Gravitics
- eVTOL: Joby, Archer (no ITAR — open to non-citizens)
- Research: NSF REU sites in your discipline
Don't put all your applications in one category. Government programs have fixed deadlines and low acceptance rates. Primes hire in volume but close early. Startups are rolling but extremely selective. Diversify.
What Hiring Managers Actually Look For
- Technical projects with results. Not "I'm interested in aerospace" — "I designed, built, and tested X, and it achieved Y." Competitions, personal projects, and research all count.
- Relevant skills. CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360), programming (Python, MATLAB, C++), lab skills, machining, soldering. List specific tools, not vague categories.
- Specificity about the company. Reference the actual programs, missions, or products you want to work on. "I want to work on Starship's thermal protection system" beats "I'm passionate about space."
- GPA matters but isn't everything. Most programs want 3.0+. SpaceX and startups weigh projects and skills more heavily. Government programs use GPA as a filter.
Common Mistakes
- Starting too late. If you start looking in January, Boeing, AFRL, and early-posting primes are already closed.
- Applying to only 2–3 programs. You need 15–20 applications across categories to have reasonable odds.
- Generic applications. Hiring managers can tell when you copied the same cover letter. Customize for each program.
- Ignoring citizenship requirements. Most aerospace internships require US citizenship or US Person status (ITAR). If you're not a US citizen, focus on eVTOL companies (Joby, Archer), some L3Harris roles, and NSF REUs — these are more flexible.
- Using AI to write your application. NASA explicitly prohibits AI-generated application materials and will disqualify applicants. Write your own essays.