Data Engineering Intern
ABOUT THE ROLE
We're looking for a motivated intern to join our Operational Data team in Auckland. Operational Data is a software engineering team sitting at the intersection between software and data. The team develops and maintains the tools and services that extract value from operational data, enabling engineers and analysts to derive the technical insights used to develop and improve Rocket Lab's launch vehicles and space systems.
As a Data Engineering Intern you will learn modern data engineering practices and get hands-on with real data pipelines from across every company domain - from avionics to propulsion, and everything in between. You'll build and maintain the software that collates, curates and surfaces the data our engineering and operations teams rely on every day.
You'll work as part of a sprint team, contributing to code reviews, documentation and backlog refinement, and you'll have the opportunity to demonstrate what you've built directly to the stakeholders who use it. Under the guidance of experienced engineers, you'll take ownership of your own tickets and see your work deployed and supported in a live operational environment.
This is an opportunity to work on real space technology projects and contribute to missions that are literally reaching for the stars.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Operational Data:
Support the collation, curation and classification of operational data
Support the retrieval and display of operational data
Build and port data pipelines from across the business
Support analysis and report generation on behalf of stakeholders in engineering and operations
Software Development:
Develop software and tooling to support the data management and exploitation needs of the company
Maintain existing software and tooling according to bug-fix and feature requests
Collaborate in the review and approval of merge requests
Document software architecture and designs
Refine product backlog items and keep assigned tickets up to date
Participate in team activities (stand-ups, retrospectives, sprint planning) and contribute innovative ideas
Lead demonstrations of software products to stakeholders
Deploy and support operational software
Collaborate with engineers and team members across multiple departments
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
MUST HAVE:
Studying towards (or recently completed) a tertiary diploma, certificate or degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Science, or equivalent level of knowledge
Experience with Python development - professional, coursework or personal projects all count
Experience with Git
Excellent problem-solving skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
Team player with a positive attitude and a "how can I help?" mentality
Proven communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships
Passion for aerospace, space technology, and innovation
NICE TO HAVE:
REST API and services development
Experience with common data analysis libraries and tools, such as Pandas/NumPy, ETL pipelines and SQL
Kubernetes, Docker and/or Linux
Data visualisation
Knowledge of data science and numerical analysis techniques
Previous internship or project experience in software or data engineering
WHAT WE OFFER
Hands-on experience working on real aerospace and space technology projects
Mentorship from world-class engineers and industry professionals
Exposure to data from across the business, from avionics to propulsion
Opportunity to build and deploy production data pipelines and tooling
Professional development opportunities in the space industry
Collaborative and innovative work environment
Opportunity to contribute to missions that make a difference
Potential pathway to future career opportunities at Rocket Lab
HOW TO APPLY
Please ensure you submit a cover letter, detailing why you are interested in the specific role you have applied for. Please make sure to cite a project/experience/hobby that is relevant to the role.
Please note: We will be reviewing and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis as applications are received. We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible, as positions may be filled before the closing date.
Start Date: November 2026