Mechanical Engineering Intern – Actuators & Mechanisms

Mechanical Engineering Intern – Actuators & Mechanisms (Aerospace)
Employment Type: Internship
Compensation: $34–$42 per hour
Work Environment: Onsite
Position Overview
Work on real aerospace hardware and contribute to the design, analysis, testing, and manufacturing of rocket mechanisms. This role offers hands-on hardware ownership, root cause analysis, engineering design, and opportunities to see your work come to life on the factory floor.
You'll work on electromechanical and pneumatic actuators, precision mechanisms, and structural components while collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the design, analysis, and testing of electromechanical actuators (EMAs) and pneumatic actuator systems for aerospace applications.
- Create CAD models, engineering drawings, and documentation for components and subassemblies.
- Perform preliminary engineering calculations and simulation support for performance, loads, and kinematics.
- Participate in hardware builds, test setup, data collection, and post-test analysis.
- Troubleshoot hardware and integration issues and contribute to root cause analysis.
- Design and develop components, assemblies, and systems from concept through initial release.
- Work with machined metallic components, sheet metal, composites, and formed panels.
- Collaborate with manufacturing engineers to incorporate design-for-manufacturing principles.
- Perform packaging assessments, interference checks, tolerance stack analyses, and fastener selection.
- Support bills of materials (BOMs) and configuration management across multiple vehicles.
- Create and release engineering drawings following critical design reviews (CDRs), incorporating geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
Required Qualifications
- Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Hands-on experience with mechanical design, prototyping, or structural and mechanism analysis.
- 1–2 years of CAD experience using SolidWorks, Siemens NX, CATIA, Fusion 360, or similar tools.
- Ability to work with large assemblies and manage large bills of materials (BOMs).
- Understanding of fundamental engineering principles and their application to design decisions.
- Experience working on an engineering team or project involving hardware design and fabrication.
- Familiarity with CAD tools and exposure to finite element analysis (FEA), Python, or MATLAB.
- Strong interest in aerospace hardware, including actuators, linkages, latches, or deployable structures.
- Willingness to work onsite with real-world aerospace hardware.
- Ability to collaborate effectively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with Siemens NX and basic engineering drafting practices.
- Experience with Python, MATLAB, or other scripting tools for data analysis and automation.
- Exposure to FEA or simulation tools for structural or thermal modeling.
- Hands-on experience with prototyping, machining, or laboratory test equipment.
- Experience working on a rocket or aerospace engineering team.
- 1+ year of experience with NX and Teamcenter PLM.
- 1+ year of experience with GD&T and engineering drafting.
Compensation
$34–$42 per hour
Application Process
Applications will be evaluated by our recruitment specialists using an AI-powered screening system. Submit your resume for an initial profile evaluation to assess your suitability for the opportunity.
Interested in building and testing real rocket hardware? Apply today!

Work arrangement
Yes