INTERNSHIP DETAILS

2027 Test Engineering Intern - VSFB CA

CompanyNorthrop Grumman
LocationUnited States
Work ModeOn Site
PostedSeptember 29, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The intern will develop and execute comprehensive test plans, procedures, and schedules while coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to verify and validate system requirements. They will also support hardware-in-the-loop testing activities and participate in technical and safety review boards.
Internship Type
full time
Salary Range
$27 - $42
Company Size
473
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Inc. is a company based out of 12011 Sunset Hills Rd, Reston, Virginia, United States.
About the Role
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: No

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is a full-spectrum provider of innovative mission critical solutions in aircraft sustainment and modernization, training and simulation, integrated battle command systems, advanced weapons, and software development and IT modernization and sustainment, focused on dynamic mission-sets with quick-turn requirements for a wide variety of national security, military and civilian customers. Defense Systems aspires to be the fastest growing global defense solutions provider, and we deliver a full spectrum of readiness, decision-making, and effects capabilities and solutions.


An internship at Northrop Grumman is unique. Sure, you’ll learn new skills, explore our enterprise, network with experts, connect with thought leaders, and finish with a resume that opens doors. But you’ll gain something even more valuable: pride in what you’ve done. Join us and launch your career. We’ll support you with training, professional development and networking opportunities, and our shared vision of global security.


Northrop Grumman is seeking Test Engineers for an internship opportunity. This position will be located at our Defense Systems Sector in VSFB, CA.


The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Strategic Deterrent Systems Division (SDSD).


What You Will Get To Do:

  • Develop customer contractual needs and requirements into test solutions that acknowledges technical schedule and cost constraints.
  • Develop and direct preparation and execution of comprehensive test plans, procedures and schedules.
  • Review and evaluate test requirements for completeness of test program.
  • Coordinate with Subject Matter Experts, Element Test teams, System Test teams, and other stakeholders to identify test objectives, test requirements, and risks that require test to mitigate.
  • Supporting development of instrumentation requirements for Hardware in the Loop testing. Identify test support requirements and coordinate with Design & Integration team for budget and personnel needs.
  • Overseeing test activities in support or requirement verification and validation.
  • Conduct daily briefing and approve test start for each test event.
  • Approve Break of Configuration on the test floor.
  • Conduct tabletop reviews and dry run test procedures with test team prior to execution.
  • Coordinate and conduct Technical and Safety Review Boards, and Test Readiness Reviews. Support customer Test Plan Working Groups. Prepare Test Planning Team charters.
  • Coordinate with Quality organization for test support.
  • Review and approve major test amendments.
  • Utilize excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to interface with all levels of employees and management.
  • Working well in a team environment, collaborate with multiple engineering teams to define test objectives and requirements for test activities in a hardware in the loop lab.
  • Set a Vision: Develop and communicate a clear vision for shaping, growing, and enabling the Launch Silo IPT to meet and exceed its obligations.
  • Build a High Performing Team: Partner with Functional leadership to build, maintain, and implement mentoring, succession, and development plans. Develop and execute staffing plans that achieve financial and programmatic strategic goals.
  • Take Ownership: Drive execution across a diverse, multidisciplinary team, meeting cost, schedule, and technical performance metrics. Communicate progress, challenges, and plans with clarity and conciseness.
  • Lead with Courage: Instill a culture of empowerment and accountability that enables the team to efficiently meet or exceed obligations. Build strong partnering relationships with customers, industry partners, and internal organizations and proliferate this partnership across the Launch Silo IPT.
  • Respond to Challenges with Resilience: Perform proactive risk and opportunity management. Leverage strong partnerships to navigate setbacks and implement recovery plans that maintain forward momentum.
  • Act with Speed: Leverage leaders within the Launch Silo IPT to make timely and credible decisions while performing advocacy across a broad stakeholder community to ensure buy-in and mitigate delays. Implement process improvements and strategic initiatives where necessary to maintain and increase execution velocity.

Basic Qualifications

A candidate must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

  • Be a student who is enrolled full-time and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college/university and will be enrolled full time in Fall 2027.
  • Be majoring in or having majored in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
  • Be available to work full-time (40 hours per week) for at least 10 weeks during summer 2027.
  • Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)


Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.70/4.0 or higher
  • Current active Secret Security Clearance or higher



Intern Pay Range for Vandenburg, CA:

  • Bachelor’s: $26.75 to $33.50 per hour
  • Master’s: $38.00 - $41.50 per hour

At Northrop Grumman, our internship pay rates are standardized and take into account three main factors: the anticipated graduation date of the individual, the cost of labor of the geographic location, and whether the internship is considered technical or administrative.

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The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
Key Skills
Test engineeringTest planningHardware in the loop testingRequirement verificationValidationTechnical documentationRisk managementInstrumentation requirementsCommunicationInterpersonal skillsCollaborationStrategic planningData analysisSafety reviewProject coordination
Categories
EngineeringTechnologyGovernment & Public SectorSecurity & Safety
Benefits
TrainingProfessional developmentNetworking opportunities