top of page

Proposals Intern (Government Contracting)  Summer Internship 

Department: Proposals

Location: In office, Madison Heights, MI 
Duration: Summer Internship (8–12 weeks) 
Reports To: Proposal and Capture Manager 

About this Role 

Mettle Ops is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Proposals Intern to support key initiatives that inform and strengthen our competitive positioning, and proposal readiness within the government contracting market. 

This internship offers hands-on exposure to federal procurement, competitive analysis, proposal development, and government focused messaging an excellent opportunity for students interested in communications, business, public policy, marketing, or acquisition fields. 

The intern will participate and lead elements of meaningful projects with direct impact on our business development and proposal operations. 

Select summer projects could include: 

Competitive Landscape & Market Research 

  • Research peer companies and industry competitors. 

  • Analyze strengths, differentiators, and service positioning. 

  • Compile findings into a competitive benchmarking report with actionable recommendations. 

Federal Acquisition & Opportunity Research 

  • Investigate which agencies purchase our types of services using tools such as 
    USASpending.gov, FPDS, agency forecasts, and SAM.gov. 

  • Summarize relevant opportunities, trends, and procurement patterns. 

  • Deliver a digestible “How Government Buys What We Sell” briefing deck. 

Proposal Process Support  

  • Shadow elements of the proposal process (RFQ/RFP review, team meetings, communications, content collection, editing). 

  • Identify opportunities for workflow improvements. 

  • Update the current SOP documenting best practices and templates. 

Past Performance Summaries & Case Studies 

  • Interview project managers and technical leads. 

  • Convert project details into concise, compelling past performance single page case studies. 

  • Update past case studies with current information and project data. 

  • Ensure consistency in layout, messaging, and formatting. 

What You’ll Learn 

  • How government DoD agencies source and select contractors 

  • Federal procurement terminology and processes (RFI, SSN, RFP, evaluation criteria, etc.) 

  • Market positioning and messaging in a regulated environment 

  • Best practices for capability statements and past performance narratives 

  • Basics of proposal management and understanding of BD pipeline development 

  • Professional communication, interviewing, and technical writing 

  • Competitive analysis, research, and marketing strategy 

 

Qualifications 

Required: 

  • Undergraduate student (or recent graduate) in Communications, Business, Public Administration, English, or technical Manufacturing or Engineering related fields of study 

  • Strong writing and analytical skills 

  • Ability to synthesize information into clear, concise summaries 

  • Attention to detail and the ability to prioritize effectively in a fastpaced environment. 

  • Interest in government contracting, proposals, or public-sector markets 

Preferred but not required: 

  • Experience with Adobe Creative Suite  

  • Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) 

  • Prior exposure to research projects or competitive analysis 

  • Curiosity and willingness to learn federal procurement concepts 

 

What We Offer 

  • Hands-on mentorship from business development and proposal professionals 

  • Real-world experience contributing to business development efforts 

  • Opportunities to participate in meetings, reviews, and cross-team collaborations 

  • A supportive learning environment designed for growth 

  • Active Young Professionals Group 

 

How to Apply 

Please submit: 

  • Résumé 

  • Short cover letter explaining interest in the role 

  • Portfolio samples/links if available  

(586) 306-8962

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X

HEADQUARTERS

3223 15 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48310

METTLE OPS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER

31791 Sherman Ave, Madison Heights, MI 48071

METTLE OPS TECHNICAL INNOVATION CENTER

31800 Sherman Ave, Madison Heights, MI 48071

METTLE OPS INTEGRATION FACILITY

31801 Research Park Drive, Madison Heights, MI 48071

Mettle Ops is a woman-owned, service-disabled, veteran-owned, disadvantaged small business.

WBE, WOSB, CVE, VOSB, SDVOSB, U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) Certified 2027 

GSA Schedule 47QRAA18D00C5  |  NIST SP 800-171 Compliant

Research and Development Center and Integration Center AS9100 Rev D Certified by PJR

UEI: QSYWD21GKVA1 | CAGE: 6XYB2

©

2026

Mettle Ops

  | 

  | 

  | 

  | 

  | 

  | 

  | 

  | 

  | 

  | 

  | 

Mettle Ops does not report Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

  | 

Website powered by LIFT

  | 

  | 

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA HEADQUARTERS

5000 Bradford Drive NW, Suite B3, Huntsville, AL 35805

bottom of page