Mechanical Engineering Intern

About the Role

We're looking for a Mechanical Engineering Intern to design the structure that carries our ground beacon system, including transportation of the system from the lab to the field test.

The beacon and its system components all have to travel together, set up fast, and stay co-located with our observational telescope. Portable, modular, and rigid are competing goals. You'll own that trade and defend it. Alongside the mounting, you'll characterize what the environment does to the installed system so we know how much of the pointing error budget the structure is spending.

This internship supports our program under a Department of War energy investment program. You'll work directly with the optics team to ensure the structure design meets the optical beacon requirements.

What You'll Do

• Design system mounting for three states: pre-delivery, in transit, and installed at the test site
• Trade portability and modularity against stiffness and alignment retention, and document the reasoning behind the design you pick
• Design a transportable platform to house beacon equipment
• Build parametric CAD models and produce drawings a machine shop can quote and manufacture
• Analyze environmental effects on the installed system, including temperature and wind loading, and quantify the impact on pointing stability
• Characterize transportation effects - shock, vibration, and handling - and recommend mitigations
• Support setup, teardown, and field checkout with the optics team

What We're Looking For From You

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a closely related field with an expected graduation in Spring 2027
• Working proficiency in CAD, NX preferred
• Coursework in statics, mechanics of materials, and vibrations
• Hands-on fabrication or assembly experience: machine shop, Formula SAE, robotics, research lab, or your own builds
• Able to commit 5-10 hours per week from September 2026 through March 2027, on-site in Northern Virginia

We Have a Strong Preference For

• FEA experience for static, modal, or random vibration analysis (NX / NASTRAN)
• Exposure to shock and vibration testing, or to transportation environment standards such as MIL-STD-810
• GD&T fluency and practical DFM/DFA judgment
• Experience designing optomechanical mounts, kinematic mounts, or other alignment-critical hardware
• Demonstrated interest in defense, space, or energy applications

ITAR Requirements

This position is subject to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.