Careers

To learn more about Aerospace Industries Association, please visit: https://www.aia-aerospace.org/about-aia/

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Position Summary:

The Director, Legislative Affairs will develop and execute the Association’s legislative program; communicate the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry’s concerns before Congress and advocate for those priorities; support AIA events and informational sessions on Capitol Hill; and inform AIA members of key congressional actions and potential impacts the A&D community.  In this role, you will develop AIA positions and strategic advocacy on legislation affecting the industry primarily related to civil aviation issues. This includes partnering with the leadership team and AIA members to develop and execute AIA’s legislative strategy and advocating those positions before Congress.  It is expected that this position will involve registration and reporting as a federal lobbyist, as required by law, but not registration as a lobbyist before any state.

Our ideal candidate must have a strong working knowledge of the federal legislative process, the current organization of Congress, and the legislative timetable for annual appropriations and policy legislation.  Recent and relevant experience on Capitol Hill is a requirement for this position.

This position reports directly to the Vice President, Legislative Affairs and will be a critical partner alongside other members of the Legislative Affairs, Communications, and Civil Aviation teams to support our mission.

Key Responsibilities:

This position is responsible for successful execution of AIA’s legislative strategy as it relates to civil aviation legislation before the U. S. Congress.  Under direction of the Vice President, Legislative Affairs, the position provides broad support to and leads AIA’s overall legislative strategy with a focus on Civil Aviation issues.  Where needed, it is expected that the Director will also support legislative advocacy on cross-cutting issues aligned with AIA’s strategic priorities such as federal tax policy, workforce, and annual defense legislation. This is a strategic role requiring adaptability, creativity, and motivation. The individual is expected to deliver high levels of support to AIA staff and members and be available as a subject matter expert in legislative affairs who can help identify and solve near-term problems for stakeholders.

Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years of full-time experience on Capitol Hill working for a Member of Congress or Congressional committee (civil aviation and/or aerospace experience preferred).
• In-depth and demonstrated knowledge of the federal legislative process.
• Excellent interpersonal and legislative research skills.
• Excellent business writing and oral presentation skills with an ability to communicate in written form to different audiences with minimal oversight.
• Ability to execute work and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Goal-oriented with strong ability to self-manage tasks and deadlines.
• Ability to successfully coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work reliably and timely with a demonstrated ability to maintain the highest level of ethical and professional standards.
• Demonstrated experience working in a highly collaborative environment while developing and maintaining positive work relationships.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; political science or related concentration preferred.

To Apply, please send the following documents to [email protected]:

• Resume
• Cover Letter 

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status. Military service valued, including those still serving in the National Guard or Reserve.

To learn more about AIA, please visit: https://www.aia-aerospace.org/about-aia/

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Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Director, Corporate Events this position is primarily responsible for supporting the planning and execution of AIA’s strategic events, as well as providing logistical support for various association meetings (in-person, hybrid, and virtual).

The ideal candidate is highly organized and experienced in the online components of events to include registration, event web pages, surveys, etc. The incumbent will contribute to the planning of high-profile external events that enhance the organization’s image among media, government officials, and key stakeholders. This includes multi-day meetings with senior government officials and receptions at international air shows. Partner with internal cross-functional teams to create event agendas, marketing materials, and content that meet engagement targets. Assist in the design, development, and execution of marketing and outreach strategies under the direction of the Senior Director, Corporate Events.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ability to travel up to 20%; valid passport required. Availability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to maintain effective working relationships with staff and collaborate across AIA.
• Native understanding and extensive work within the Microsoft Office environment (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project planning programs, SharePoint) is required.

Qualifications and Experience:

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in hospitality, conference planning or special events.
• Strong ability to balance multiple priorities, work independently and participate as a part of a cross-functional team, keep others informed through clear written and verbal communication, while maintaining a high level of productivity.
• Cvent experience highly desired.
• Familiarity with Photoshop and Canva.

Education

• Associate’s degree in hospitality, communications, marketing, or related field, a plus.

To Apply, please send the following documents to [email protected]:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status. Military service valued, including those still serving in the National Guard or Reserve.

To learn more about AIA, please visit: https://www.aia-aerospace.org/about-aia/

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Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Director, People Operations, the Human Resources Specialist will play a crucial role in assisting with the daily management of AIA’s human resources and people operations functions. In this role, you will support the talent acquisition process, manage the annual internship program and handle various administrative tasks within the human resources department. The Human Resources Specialist is customer-service oriented who works to foster a positive experience for all employees.

The ideal person for this position is organized, discreet, collegial, and a problem solving professional. The incumbent will be a thought partner to the Senior Director, People Operations with excellent communication skills and attention to detail. The Human Resources Specialist must be capable of swiftly transitioning between immediate and long-term tasks. Managing multiple tasks, executing day-to-day operations, maintaining excellent records, and meeting changing deadlines is essential to the position. Additionally, the incumbent will act as backup for the payroll process.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism, maturity, and trust.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to maintain effective working relationships with staff and collaborate across AIA.  Customer centricity a must.
• Native understanding and extensive work within the Microsoft Office environment (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project planning programs, SharePoint) is required.

Qualifications and Experience

Experience Required

• Minimum of 4 years of human resource experience.
• Solid understanding of labor legislation, payroll processes, and HRIS systems like Paylocity.
• Ability to work under time pressure to meet deadlines and capability to quickly flex to changes in priorities. In addition, be flexible where extra hours are needed without always being asked.
• Proficient writing skills, including the ability to develop background and talking points quickly and in a concise manner is sought after.

Education

• Associate’s degree in human resources, business administration, or related field, a plus.

To apply, please send the following documents to [email protected]:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status. Military service valued, including those still serving in the National Guard or Reserve.

AIA’s 2025 Summer Intern Program requires interns to commit to at least 10 weeks. Interns should expect to work up to 37.50 hours per week and will receive an hourly stipend of $22.00 per hour. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to: [email protected] with “ATTN: AIA Summer Intern Program” in the subject line. For additional information about AIA, please visit: http://www.aia-aerospace.org.

• Internships posted by January 16th
• Application deadline: February 20th
• Decisions are generally made in March

Eligibility

• Must be at least an enrolled in a credited college, in good standing, or a recent graduate.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Desirable fields of education: Public Policy, Political Science, Journalism, Business Management, Aerospace, Engineering, Design.

AIA Summer Intern Program opportunities are in the following functional areas:

• Communications
• Civil Aviation Policy
• Engineering & Technology
• International Affairs
• National Security Policy
• Membership/Business Development
• STEM Programs and Outreach
• Space Systems

Some representative descriptions providing the responsibilities and qualifications of some of the positions are listed below. As a non-profit association, our internships provide exceptional access to our member organizations that are leaders in the aerospace and defense industries.

Consistent with our commitment to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly believe that diversity contributes to a broader collective perspective that will consistently lead to a better organization and better results. We are working hard to increase the diversity of our team wherever we can, and we actively encourage everyone to consider becoming a part of it.

Communications

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is seeking a dynamic individual to join the communications team for a summer internship. AIA represents an industry that moves, connects, and inspires people and drives the American economy. We are looking for a storyteller who can help us share our story through media outreach, events, and digital content. We are looking for a communications or journalism major to help in all aspects of our busy office. Duties include writing articles for our website; drafting press releases; developing content for our social channels; helping organize meetings and other event planning; conducting research; collaborating with our Membership team for member communications; and special projects.

Qualifications:

Strong writing and interpersonal skills are essential. Familiarity with Microsoft Office, social media platforms, and basic graphic design tools like Photoshop, a plus.

Civil Aviation Policy

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is seeking a Civil Aviation Policy Intern to assist our team on several exciting policy projects this summer. AIA is the most authoritative and influential trade association representing the U.S. aerospace and defense industry on Capitol Hill, within the administration and internationally. We represent more than 340 major aerospace and defense companies and their suppliers, embodying every high-technology manufacturing segment of the U.S. aerospace and defense industry including commercial aviation and avionics, manned and unmanned civil and defense systems, and space technologies and satellite communications.

Duties would include monitoring and analyzing relevant and potentially impactful regulatory and legislative issues for our members and specific Committees, Subcommittees and Working Groups. This position would also work with our communications staff to assist on messaging these issues to external parties and help craft effective ways to communicate with our internal members. Other duties may include ensuring accuracy of information on AIA’s database and coordinating relevant stakeholder meetings.

Work of the Civil Aviation Division includes commercial aviation safety and aircraft/propulsion systems design, manufacturing, maintenance, and repair; environmental issues: including sustainability, sustainable aviation fuels, noise, emissions and chemical policy; unmanned aircraft systems, advanced air mobility and air traffic management, and spectrum. The intern is tasked with supporting the Civil Aviation staff as necessary and should expect to gain valuable knowledge about the commercial industry and policy making.

Qualifications:

Applicants should be highly motivated, have excellent organizational and communication (oral and written) abilities, with a desire to work within the aerospace industry. Applicants should also have a basic understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes.

Engineering & Technology

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is seeking an intern to work with the Engineering & Technology division.  This internship will be focused on the intersection of high technology and aerospace and will offer the candidate the opportunity to interact with senior technical decision makers in the aerospace industry.  The internship will focus on the intersection of aerospace technology and policy.  An ideal candidate will have experience in developing automated processes to consume, transform, and summarize large sets of text-based data using AI.

Qualifications:

Applicants should be strongly motivated self-starters with demonstrated interest in engineering and technology.

International Affairs

The International Affairs internship at AIA is designed to give students exposure to a broad range of activities in the international aerospace and defense marketplace. Students will be given an opportunity to interact with member companies and the U.S. Government (with an emphasis on the Departments of Defense, State and Commerce), allowing them to build contacts which may lead to future career opportunities in the sector. This position will work with the International Affairs Division, focusing on commercial and defense and export controls.

During the internship, students will be asked to take on a variety of projects important to AIA and the division, while availing themselves of the broader national security / aerospace and defense dialogue that occurs in Washington, DC. Tasks at AIA may include, but not be limited to, assisting division staff with day-to-day operations, assisting in organizing U.S. Government-industry dialogues, developing policy positions for consideration by AIA member companies, consolidating input on Federal regulations, including commercial trade, foreign military sales, and export controls of aerospace and defense equipment.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will come with superior writing and organizational skills and have a basic background in either international affairs or international business. Applicants should have a broad understanding of international trade, economic policy, and/or foreign affairs. Research experience is valued.

 National Security Policy

Interested in national security and defense acquisition policy? Looking for an opportunity to work near Capitol Hill? The Aerospace Industries Association’s National Security Policy division is offering an opportunity to gain experience and learn from leading government and industry experts about national security strategy and budgets, acquisition policy, cybersecurity, industrial base policy, and more. Your tasks at AIA will include preparing and reviewing documents, organizing logistics for U.S. Government-industry dialogues, assisting in the development of policy positions for consideration by AIA member companies, and assisting in the planning and execution of AIA events. Interns should expect to gain valuable knowledge about defense and acquisition policy and will be provided excellent networking opportunities.

Qualifications:

Applicants should be strongly motivated self-starters with demonstrated interest in defense and/or acquisition policy. 

Membership/Business Development

Interested in gaining real-world experience related to lead generation and pipeline management? The Aerospace Industries Association has an open position for an intern to work closely with the Membership team on reactivating membership conversations with previous members, researching targeted companies to determine eligibility for membership, and tracking lead progress through the acquisition pipeline.

This work requires outreach to prospective members, following up, and reporting results. Data entry will also be required. The AIA assumes professional responsibility for the data entry work being done.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a candidate who has a desire for real-world experience in a fast-paced environment. The candidate should be personable, have a strong attention to details, excellent communication skills, and be familiar with database entry. The candidate should have experience with the Microsoft suite of office products.

STEM Programs and Outreach (In-Person)

Have a passion for aerospace, program management, or STEM? Join us as the Spring/Summer 2025 intern for our signature program, the American Rocketry Challenge and Aerospace STEM Clubs. The internship gives selected interns the opportunity to be involved in the hands-on planning and execution of the aerospace and defense industry’s signature STEM initiative, reaching nearly 5,000 students annually. Interns will gain valuable training in project management, communications, and data-driven research.

About the American Rocketry Challenge

The American Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest rocket contest with nearly 5,000 students nationwide competing each year. The contest gives middle and high school students the opportunity to design, build and launch model rockets and hands-on experience solving engineering problems. Since the program’s founding in 2002, over 90,000 students have gained invaluable STEM skills through hands-on, project-based learning.

An intern will work as an integral part of a small team that manages the American Rocketry Challenge, so they will be actively involved in a variety of different program aspects. By the end of the internship, the individual will garner an understanding of non-profit program management, diverse communications skills, and a clear, intern-managed project.

This internship requires a 20-to-25-hour time commitment per week. This internship is based in the Washington, D.C. metro area – Eastern time zone. In-person availability is required. An intern onboard during the month of May 2025 is expected to assist in-person at the American Rocketry Challenge finals on May 17-18, 2025.

Responsibilities:

• Assisting the Program Director in the administration of all programming related to the 2025 American Rocketry Challenge and Aerospace STEM Clubs.
• Assisting with vendor communication and event management.
• Assisting with digital communications including social media, graphic design, and newsletters.
• Selecting, in consultation with the Program Director, a specific project area of the program (Virtual Competitions, Partnerships, Communications, Virtual Events, etc.) to develop and execute project plans.
• Assisting with registration and team applications.
• Assisting with the administration of our STEM Innovation Grant program.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate student, seniors preferred, with a passion for aerospace, education, and/or youth
  engagement. All majors will be considered.
• Prior internship experienced preferred.
• Strong writing and proofreading skills.
• Excellent communication, attention to detail, and time management skills.
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Excel, and Canva.
• Experience with Click-up or another Project Management software is a plus, but not required.

Spacy Systems

Interested in gaining real-world experience related to the development and advocacy of space policy positions? The Aerospace Industries Association has an open position for an intern to work closely with the Space Systems team on a range of space policy initiatives. During the internship, students may be asked to take on a variety of projects important to AIA and the division, including research on policy positions, and white papers highlighting issues within space policy, contributing to articles and news items, and supporting space policy internal and external events.

Qualifications:

• Applicants should be strongly motivated self-starters with a deep interest in space policy.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status.