Wardstone
Satellites for Missile Defense
Business Development Intern - Space and Missile Defense
About the role
Wardstone is a defense-tech startup building next-generation space and missile defense systems to protect the United States and its allies. We work closely with the Space Force and Air Force to move fast from concept to deployed capability.
We are looking for a Business Development Intern to support customer discovery, government engagement, and strategic partnerships.
We have a strong preference for candidates with prior military service working within the Air Force, Navy, or any other missile defense experience. Bonus points for graduates of U.S. military academies.
What You’ll Work On
- Support engagement with DoD customers, labs, and program offices
- Help prepare briefing materials, whitepapers, and proposals (SBIR, BAAs, RFPs)
- Track and analyze defense programs, budgets, and acquisition pathways
- Assist with partner and prime contractor outreach
- Conduct market and competitive analysis across defense and space domains
- Sit in on real customer calls, strategy discussions, and reviews
- Potential travel to military bases and conferences domestically
- Bonus points for active clearance
This is a hands-on role with direct exposure to how early-stage defense companies work with government customers.
Who We’re Looking For
- Prior service members strongly preferred, especially graduates of:
- U.S. Air Force Academy
- U.S. Military Academy (West Point)
- U.S. Naval Academy
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in engineering, policy, economics, business, or a related field
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Comfortable with ambiguity and fast-moving environments
- Interest in national security, defense acquisition, and emerging technology
- Ability to work in the U.S. (citizenship required)
Bonus points for experience with:
- DoD acquisition processes or program offices
- SBIR / STTR or government contracting
- Strategy, consulting, or defense policy
- Engineering background and ability to engage with engineers
Why Wardstone
- Work on real national security problems with real customers
- Learn how defense startups engage with the DoD from the inside
- Direct mentorship from founders
- High ownership, real responsibility, no busywork
- Competitive compensation for interns
About the interview
- 15-30 min phone intro with CEO
- 1 Hour phone deep dive with Wardstone advisor
- 1 Hour in person with CEO
About Wardstone
Wardstone is building the next generation of space-based missile defense. We design and deploy autonomous orbital interceptors capable of defeating hypersonic and ballistic threats, a capability the U.S. and its allies urgently need but that no one has yet delivered.
At Wardstone, you will build hardware that gets tested constantly and pushed to its limits, from US Air Force assisted ground experiments to supersonic ground launched platforms to future orbital prototypes. You’ll work on systems that combine advanced sensing, guidance, high-energy physics, and spaceflight in ways few organizations on Earth attempt.
We are a small, elite engineering team moving fast to solve problems of national importance. Every engineer has massive ownership, rapid iteration cycles, and a direct impact on the direction of the company and the defense of millions of people.
If you want to work at the intersection of space, autonomy, and national security, you should join Wardstone.
