Operations Intern – Startup Operations Support

Job Description

Startup Operator Apprentice, Fall 2026 Intern / Co-op | GITAI

The Tone:
This is a internship at GITAI, located in Torrance, CA. GITAI is a vertically integrated space and defense company that builds the next generation of hardware for low-Earth-orbit missions, focused on space robotics, satellite buses, and in-orbit servicing to support U.S. national security. This role is crucial for learning how a real hardware startup operates, taking ownership of essential tasks, and earning increasing responsibilities by consistently delivering results. The company is early-stage, meaning systems, the company itself, and the market are all evolving simultaneously, requiring broad ownership and a willingness to stay close to the hardware.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Part-time, temporary, non-exempt
• Location: In-person, Torrance, CA
• Pay: $22–$25 hourly
• Mission: This person solves operational problems and supports the daily running of a hardware startup across various functions to enable the core engineering work.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Office Management: Support daily office operations, including managing supplies, vendors, shipments, and general workplace logistics.
• Financial Support: Help process invoices, expenses, receipts, and maintain other accounting records for the company.
• Purchasing: Support the purchasing process, which involves collecting quotes, placing orders, tracking deliveries, and receiving items.
• People Operations: Assist with recruiting, onboarding new employees, managing employee records, and other people operations tasks.
• Process Development: Build and maintain simple trackers, checklists, and internal processes, taking ownership of operational problems until they are completed.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Entry-Level. Current enrollment in a college or university is required. U.S. citizenship is mandatory, as this role may involve access to U.S. government programs and restricted information.
• Experience: None explicitly required; candidates are evaluated based on their speed of learning, responsiveness to feedback, and overall reliability.
• Skills: A strong desire to learn and grow, an open and coachable mindset, willingness to receive direct feedback and act on it, reliability, and attention to detail.