Great opportunities where you have to be proactive if you want to learn anything. My success and learning was directly related to my hard work.
What I wish was different
I wish the interview with the Northrop at the career fair was more personable and not so rigid. I was asked questions and it felt like they typed my whole answer. When I applied to the SLC Mission Systems sector it was night and day different. I love it here.
Advice
Don’t hesitate to jump in and ask for help, projects, or clarification on tasks.
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Digital Hardware Engineering intern
June - August 2020 • Baltimore, MD
What I liked
The staff is incredible. Everyone pours into you and your development as an engineer. I learned something new every day.
What I wish was different
This summer, the internships were virtual which took away from the networking events.
Advice
Don't be afraid to try! I almost didn't apply to this company 2 years ago because I was intimidated by how big of a company they were. I applied, got hired for the summer of 2019, returned in the summer of 2020, and am returning full time in 2021. It's been one of the best experiences!
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Software Engineer Intern
June 2020 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
My task manager at Northrop Grumman encouraged creativity in a very unique way. My summer consisted of a few tasks, but one main, larger project. I had a version of the project completed, and when I showed it to my manager, he said that he had had interns do this project before, but he was looking for a new way to do it. So, he encouraged me to go take another look at it and really go at it my own way. This was a great environment to work in. In school, is it common that every assignment has one main way to complete it. However, for my internship, I was able to exercise my creativity and find a new solution to an old problem.
What I wish was different
Although there were advantages to remote work, I wish my internship had been in the office physically. Advantages to remote work included saving money on gas, a better sleep schedule, better mental health activities, and a more positive impact on our environment. However, as this was my first internship, I would have preferred an in-person experience. This would have allowed me to network more efficiently and perhaps accomplish more throughout my time. I am more of an extrovert, and I place very high value on face-to-face interaction and networking, so and in-person experience would have suited me better.
Advice
The biggest piece of advice I could give anyone going into a Software internship as follows, and it's deceptively simple... Do more. Do more than all of the other interns. Do more than your managers expect of you. This does not just mean do more in technical terms, but also do more in terms of networking and soft skills. I made sure I did more than was expected of me, and it allowed me to not only continue my internship past the summer, but also land a return offer. If you finish a task, go to your manager and ensure it's done correctly and ask for another one. Be the intern that reaches out to upper managements and sets appointments with them to network. Do not wait for management to reach out to you. I spoke with my manager twice per week, and my manager's manager (the project manager) twice a month at least. If you're in a meeting with a lot of people and someone from upper management is giving a presentation, make sure you ask at least one question if there's a QnA. Believe it or not, upper management will remember you if you reach out and ask questions more than any other intern. DO THE MOST!!!!
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Mechanical Engineer
May - August 2020 • El Segundo, CA
What I liked
I enjoyed both they type of work I was doing and the warm and welcoming environment. Northrop Grumman also did a wonderful job to foster friendships between interns.
What I wish was different
Advice
Don't be afraid to ask your manager or mentor to change what type of work you are doing to better align with your interests.
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Security Intern
May - August 2020 • Melbourne, FL
What I liked
Interns had zoom calls with VPs, the CEO, and other leaders in the company. I liked the hands-on experience I had and feeling I was part of the team I was working with. You don't get treated as an intern, you get treated as one of them.
What I wish was different
We didn't get to have many intern activities due to covid. I would've taken advantage of those events, but thankfully we had many through Zoom and Skype.
Advice
Take advantage of the opportunity you were given and get to know people from not only the campus where you are working but other campuses as well. You never know when an opportunity will arise somewhere else and how valuable the connections and network you made will pay off and come in handy.
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Software Engineering Intern
May - July 2020 • Fairfax, VA
What I liked
Everyone is very friendly and it was a great place to work. I got lots of experience with a tool I have never used before.
What I wish was different
I wish it was longer, COVID cut down the internship to 6 weeks but I am glad they still even had a program.
Advice
Don't worry about equipment, they will send you everything you will need before you are about to start.
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Software Engineer Intern
May - August 2019 • Bellevue, NE
What I liked
Good pay, flexible hours, relaxed environment
What I wish was different
Greater organization, more preparation for interns
Advice
Be prepared to have period where you have no work because the government is very slow
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Software Engineering Intern
May - July 2019 • Melbourne, FL
What I liked
What I wish was different
Advice
Never be afraid to ask LOTS of questions or to ask your manager to put you on a project more aligned with your interests!
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Mechanical Engineering Intern
May 2019 • Oklahoma City, OK
What I liked
Great work environment. Everyone is very helpful and questions are encouraged. I got to do meaningful work, not just busy work.
What I wish was different
Advice
Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions
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Software Engineer Intern
June - September 2019 • Herndon, VA
What I liked
Being a big corporation, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with and great, experience people to work with.
What I wish was different
More work to do. Lots of days were left without much tasking or direction
Advice
Try to get a position that requires a clearance. With government contracting, a clearance opens up more opportunities.
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Mechanical Engineer
May 2018 • Wallops Island, VA
What I liked
Hands on experience and being able to learn so much
What I wish was different
Some days were busier than others. Wish there was more structure in the intern program
Advice
Never be afraid to ask questions. You can’t learn if you don’t ask.
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Mechanical Engineering Intern
May - August 2019 • Bethpage, NY
What I liked
The engineers within the section I worked in were phenomenal. It's an amazing thing being surrounded by incredibly intelligent individuals that share similar passions.
What I wish was different
Advice
Do not only expect your immediate supervisor to give you tasks. Do not be afraid to reach out and find work. Make the most of your time and don't be afraid to talk with the various engineers you'll encounter. The internship will be exactly what you make of it.
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Cyber Technical Intern
May - August 2019 • McLean, VA
What I liked
The tasks were challenging and I loved my team.
What I wish was different
I would have liked more intern events.
Advice
Ask questions, and for more/different tasks if you want them!
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Technical Intern
May - August 2019 • McLean, VA
What I liked
Networking and the opportunity to work for the company after I graduate. It was a resume builder and great real world experience.
What I wish was different
The work wasn’t so boring
Advice
Do your best work and try and learn from everything.
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College Intern Technical
May - July 2019 • Huntsville, AL
What I liked
I liked the atmosphere and how it was like a family. I also liked how professional everyone was.
What I wish was different
Advice
Get to know your supervisors! They will help you a lot with your professional career.
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Technical Intern
June - August 2019 • Melbourne, FL
What I liked
I enjoy solving real world engineering problems.
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Learn as much as you can from the more experienced engineers.
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Engineering Intern
June - August 2019 • Melbourne, FL
What I liked
I enjoyed the environment and the opportunities present within the company. My mentors and coworkers were all very friendly and helpful as well. I was able to participate in meaningful work and learn new skills during my internship.
What I wish was different
I wished that I had worked in a different department, but I ended discovering which fields I wanted to explore, and they gave me the opportunity to work in those departments next year when I return.
Advice
I would say to make the most of your time at your internship. Even if you aren’t working on the most exciting work, try to learn as much as you can and be proactive
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engineering aid
January - July 2019 • Chandler, AZ
What I liked
Doing a co-op for a company like Northrop allows them to train you more than an internship. You get more diversity in your experience because after you've been through the typical internship experience you have 3-4 more months to build on that.
What I wish was different
The company was going through its first major hiring since becoming Northrop Grumman IS, formerly Orbital ATK. There was a lot of minor inconveniences associated with that transition as the HR, IT and hiring staff were going through that system for the fist time as well.
Advice
Take an opportunity at a co-op if given to you. I believe it was much more useful than a summer internship, and Northrop was a great place to get that experience.
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Accounting Intern
June - August 2019 • Elkton, MD
What I liked
Small department, friendly people, a lot of autonomy
What I wish was different
More work to do
Advice
You have to be comfortable working alone because managers don’t interfere with every day work. It’s very peaceful if you’re an independent worker.
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Software Engine
January 2019 • Fairfax, VA
What I liked
Was treated as a full-time employee. Was not put on an intern team, doing intern only work.
What I wish was different
Advice
You can work to change projects easily if you are unhappy.
