Mission Ready: Building an Aerospace Career Through Internship Experience

After learning about the LZ Technology – San Jacinto College internship program from a close college friend who had previously interned at NASA, Sami Hamdalla knew he had to apply.

“I thought, what a terrific opportunity,” shared Sami. “To work as a student intern supporting space travel projects at NASA’s Johnson Space Center — it’s a dream job, so I applied.”

Shortly after submitting his application, Sami received an offer to join the program. Now, a year and a half later, he has contributed to several impactful projects supporting NASA’s Johnson Space Center operations. During his internship, he has worked on both the Integrated Mission Operations Contract (IMOC) and the Mission Systems Operations Contract (MSOC), gaining hands-on experience in real-world aerospace development environments.

“One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is the work I completed under the direction of my MSOC mentor,” Sami shared. “I redesigned a feature on a simulation tool used by our development team to test displays for a flight control group. The updated feature presents data in a more graphically-intuitive and user-friendly format, which has improved on-screen communication and overall clarity during testing.”

Sami will graduate in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from University of Houston. Following graduation, he plans to pursue a full-time position in the aerospace industry.

“This internship has strengthened my communication skills with my management team and enhanced my technical computer science abilities,” he said. “Having a paid internship significantly improves job prospects. I’m looking forward to landing a job and entering the workforce as a full-time employee.”

Through dedication, technical skills, and hands-on experience in mission operations, Sami is well on his way to building a successful career in aerospace.

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