Aerospace & Defense Jobs in California with J-1 Sponsorship
California is one of the most active states for J-1 visa sponsorship in aerospace and defense, with major employers like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing operating large facilities across the state. Research, engineering, and technical exchange roles in Southern California and the Bay Area regularly attract J-1 participants from top international programs.
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Get Access To All JobsSummer/Fall 2026 - 3D Modeling Collegiate Intern (Visual Design) (Beverly Hills, CA) in GAC Savannah
Unique Skills:
Your Future Takes Flight at Gulfstream
At Gulfstream, a proud division of General Dynamics, interns don’t just observe; they contribute from day one. As part of a world-class team building the most advanced business jets, you’ll take on meaningful work in your area of focus, whether engineering, manufacturing, business operations, or beyond, within a culture grounded in integrity, pride, and excellence. Our corporate headquarters in Savannah, Georgia provides the ideal setting for your intern experience by combining professional opportunity with the charm of a historic coastal city.
What You’ll Experience
- Real-world projects that make an impact
- Exposure to innovative practices
- Opportunities to grow skills and professional connections
Program Structure
- Juniors: Two rotations required
- Seniors & Graduate Students: One rotation required
Benefits Include
- Competitive pay
- Paid Holiday Time
- Company-provided housing (if your permanent residence is more than 50 miles from Gulfstream)
- Medical coverage
- 401(k) match
- Collegiate networking events
Location: Gulfstream Sales and Design Center, Beverly Hills
Hours: Flexible, 20–40 hours per week (Full-time or Part-time)
The compensation range for this role is $20.70-$33.35 per hour.
Final compensation for this role will be determined by your expected graduation date.
About the position
We are seeking a creative and detail-oriented 3D Modeling Intern to join our visual development team in-house at the Gulfstream Sales and Design Center located in Beverly Hills, California, working under the direction of our Senior Visualization Designer. This position focuses on producing high-quality, high-performance 3D models for both real-time and offline rendering. Models will primarily include interior furniture, cabinetry, and seating, based on existing CAD data and photographic references when available. The ideal candidate is passionate about polygon modeling in Autodesk Maya, demonstrates strong attention to detail, and is excited to gain professional modeling experience.
Preferred Majors
- 3D Generalist
- Game Art
- Entertainment Design
- Transportation Design
- Industrial Design
Responsibilities:
- Create accurate, optimized polygon models using Autodesk Maya.
- Focus on hard surface modeling for furniture and interior assets.
- Ensure models meet visual and performance standards for real-time applications.
- Collaborate with the team to interpret CAD drawings and reference images.
Qualifications
- Strong interest in hard surface modeling.
- Online portfolio demonstrating high-quality game or film assets.
- Familiarity with Maya for polygon modeling.
Desired Skills & Tools:
- Extensive experience with 3D modeling in Autodesk Maya
- Experience with related tools and plugins used for subdivision and polygonal hard-surface modeling
- Familiarity with modern 3D modeling workflows commonly used in the game, film, VFX, transportation, or industrial design industries
- Experience with Unreal Engine 5.
- Knowledge of Substance Designer, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).
- Familiarity with VRay for rendering.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a degree
- Graduating May 2027 or later (must be junior or senior if undergrad)
- This is an in-person internship for the summer through fall semesters from June 2026 to December 2026.
Education and Experience Requirements
Position Purpose:
Start your journey today by joining our team for a career-building experience that utilizes your skills within a world-class organization.
Job Description
Principle Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential Functions:
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Other Requirements:
- Must be enrolled as a full-time student at the time of application and actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Completion of sophomore year is required prior to the internship start date.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (without rounding); must be listed on resume.
- Rotation Requirements: Juniors – 2 rotations; Seniors & Graduate Students – 1 rotation.
- Minimum duration: 12–14 weeks (summer); 14–16 weeks (spring and fall).
- Must be onsite; this is not a remote position.
- Must have reliable transportation.
This job requires one to be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
Additional Information
Requisition Number: 232442
Category: Other
Percentage of Travel: Up to 25%
Shift: First
Employment Type: Collegiate Intern
Number of Openings: 1
Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans
Gulfstream does not provide work visa sponsorship for this position, unless the applicant is a currently sponsored Gulfstream employee.
Summer/Fall 2026 - 3D Modeling Collegiate Intern (Visual Design) (Beverly Hills, CA) in GAC Savannah
Unique Skills:
Your Future Takes Flight at Gulfstream
At Gulfstream, a proud division of General Dynamics, interns don’t just observe; they contribute from day one. As part of a world-class team building the most advanced business jets, you’ll take on meaningful work in your area of focus, whether engineering, manufacturing, business operations, or beyond, within a culture grounded in integrity, pride, and excellence. Our corporate headquarters in Savannah, Georgia provides the ideal setting for your intern experience by combining professional opportunity with the charm of a historic coastal city.
What You’ll Experience
- Real-world projects that make an impact
- Exposure to innovative practices
- Opportunities to grow skills and professional connections
Program Structure
- Juniors: Two rotations required
- Seniors & Graduate Students: One rotation required
Benefits Include
- Competitive pay
- Paid Holiday Time
- Company-provided housing (if your permanent residence is more than 50 miles from Gulfstream)
- Medical coverage
- 401(k) match
- Collegiate networking events
Location: Gulfstream Sales and Design Center, Beverly Hills
Hours: Flexible, 20–40 hours per week (Full-time or Part-time)
The compensation range for this role is $20.70-$33.35 per hour.
Final compensation for this role will be determined by your expected graduation date.
About the position
We are seeking a creative and detail-oriented 3D Modeling Intern to join our visual development team in-house at the Gulfstream Sales and Design Center located in Beverly Hills, California, working under the direction of our Senior Visualization Designer. This position focuses on producing high-quality, high-performance 3D models for both real-time and offline rendering. Models will primarily include interior furniture, cabinetry, and seating, based on existing CAD data and photographic references when available. The ideal candidate is passionate about polygon modeling in Autodesk Maya, demonstrates strong attention to detail, and is excited to gain professional modeling experience.
Preferred Majors
- 3D Generalist
- Game Art
- Entertainment Design
- Transportation Design
- Industrial Design
Responsibilities:
- Create accurate, optimized polygon models using Autodesk Maya.
- Focus on hard surface modeling for furniture and interior assets.
- Ensure models meet visual and performance standards for real-time applications.
- Collaborate with the team to interpret CAD drawings and reference images.
Qualifications
- Strong interest in hard surface modeling.
- Online portfolio demonstrating high-quality game or film assets.
- Familiarity with Maya for polygon modeling.
Desired Skills & Tools:
- Extensive experience with 3D modeling in Autodesk Maya
- Experience with related tools and plugins used for subdivision and polygonal hard-surface modeling
- Familiarity with modern 3D modeling workflows commonly used in the game, film, VFX, transportation, or industrial design industries
- Experience with Unreal Engine 5.
- Knowledge of Substance Designer, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).
- Familiarity with VRay for rendering.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a degree
- Graduating May 2027 or later (must be junior or senior if undergrad)
- This is an in-person internship for the summer through fall semesters from June 2026 to December 2026.
Education and Experience Requirements
Position Purpose:
Start your journey today by joining our team for a career-building experience that utilizes your skills within a world-class organization.
Job Description
Principle Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential Functions:
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Other Requirements:
- Must be enrolled as a full-time student at the time of application and actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Completion of sophomore year is required prior to the internship start date.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (without rounding); must be listed on resume.
- Rotation Requirements: Juniors – 2 rotations; Seniors & Graduate Students – 1 rotation.
- Minimum duration: 12–14 weeks (summer); 14–16 weeks (spring and fall).
- Must be onsite; this is not a remote position.
- Must have reliable transportation.
This job requires one to be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
Additional Information
Requisition Number: 232442
Category: Other
Percentage of Travel: Up to 25%
Shift: First
Employment Type: Collegiate Intern
Number of Openings: 1
Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans
Gulfstream does not provide work visa sponsorship for this position, unless the applicant is a currently sponsored Gulfstream employee.
Job Roles in Aerospace & Defense in California
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Which aerospace and defense companies sponsor J-1 visas in California?
California's largest aerospace and defense contractors, including Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, and Aerojet Rocketdyne, have historically sponsored J-1 participants for research and technical exchange roles. Smaller defense technology firms and aerospace startups concentrated in El Segundo, Hawthorne, and the broader Los Angeles basin also participate in J-1 programs, particularly for university-affiliated research and intern categories.
Which cities in California have the most aerospace and defense J-1 sponsorship jobs?
The Los Angeles metro area, including El Segundo, Hawthorne, Long Beach, and Palmdale, is the densest concentration of aerospace and defense employers in California. San Diego supports significant defense contracting activity, particularly in systems engineering and naval technology. The San Francisco Bay Area, including Sunnyvale and San Jose, is home to space technology and satellite companies that recruit J-1 participants for research and engineering roles.
What types of aerospace and defense roles typically qualify for J-1 sponsorship?
J-1 sponsorship in aerospace and defense most commonly covers research scholar, research intern, and specialist categories. Roles in propulsion engineering, systems integration, avionics research, materials science, and space systems design are frequently filled through J-1 exchange programs. Positions tied to academic or government research partnerships, such as roles connected to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, are particularly well-suited to J-1 program objectives.
How do I find aerospace and defense J-1 sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate aggregates aerospace and defense J-1 sponsorship jobs in California, allowing you to filter by visa type and industry so you see only relevant openings. Because J-1 sponsorship in this sector often requires employer-specific exchange program designation, Migrate Mate helps you identify which California employers are actively hiring J-1 participants rather than searching broadly across platforms that don't filter by visa category.
Are there state-specific or industry-specific considerations for J-1 sponsorship in California's aerospace and defense sector?
California's aerospace and defense employers often work on export-controlled programs subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which can restrict participation by certain foreign nationals regardless of visa status. J-1 applicants should be aware that some roles may require additional review or may be limited to U.S. persons only. Confirming ITAR restrictions with a prospective employer before applying is an important step specific to this industry.
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