By Burke Kanematsu ’25
Last summer, and again this winter, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at SpaceX as part of the recovery team in Long Beach, California. I worked as an engineering intern, supporting the operations of the West Coast droneship Of Course I Still Love You and assisting with the transition of the Dragon recovery vessel Shannon to the West Coast.
Carl and Burke in a dragon training capsule.
I first reached out to Carl Webster ’03, a Webb alum currently at SpaceX, almost a year before the internship started. SpaceX requires a minimum internship length of 12 weeks, while Webb’s official internship period is only eight weeks. Navigating this timing misalignment wasn’t easy, but Carl was instrumental in helping bridge the gap. T hanks to his mentorship and support, I was able to join the team and return later for Winter Work in January and February. To other Webbies thinking about their internships: start reaching out early. There are many Webb alumni like Carl Webster who want to help you.
What struck me most about SpaceX’s work culture is the ownership all engineers take over their systems and projects. Each engineer is responsible for ensuring their system is operational for mission success and that any necessary projects are completed before critical deadlines. Interns are given that same level of responsibility with real, challenging projects where you’re the lead. That means the work you do matters, and sometimes, it means long hours troubleshooting to keep launches on schedule.
Because of a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), I signed during onboarding, I can’t share specific details about the projects I worked on. But I can say that the experience challenged me technically and personally. It gave me confidence in my problem-solving skills and a clearer sense of what kind of engineer I want to become. One of my biggest takeaways was learning how to work effectively with tight deadlines and high stakes.
My time at Webb prepared me well for this experience. The emphasis on systems thinking, hands-on engineering, and tight-knit teamwork at Webb mirrored the environment I found at SpaceX. And having a strong foundation in ship systems definitely helped, considering the marine side of recovery operations.
The team at SpaceX was filled with smart, driven engineers who were also welcoming and supportive.
It felt great to be part of a culture where everyone is pushing boundaries, yet is still willing to take the time to mentor and help each other.
Knowing that the projects I worked on were part of real missions was incredibly motivating, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
Burke and another summer intern, Duncan, on the ferry to Catalina for a team bonding event.