Launch & Propulsion Engineering Intern

Location: On-site in Kent, Washington, United States. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, lawful permanent residents, or otherwise eligible under U.S. ITAR requirements.

Compensation: $2,000 per week for a quarter-long internship.

Company

Develops modular satellites and launch-vehicle infrastructure for space-based solar energy, orbital computing, and secure optical data transport.

What you will do

• Own a scoped component, engineering analysis, or test task from definition through a result used by the team.
• Design launch-vehicle hardware and produce CAD models and engineering drawings to ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.
• Perform hand calculations and FEA, then compare predictions with test data.
• Work with machinists and technicians on the shop floor to build and inspect hardware.
• Support component and engine testing, including instrumentation requests, test-day support, and data reduction.
• Troubleshoot hardware, participate in root-cause discussions, implement changes, and present results to the team.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate STEM program such as mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, physics, or materials science.
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structural mechanics, kinematics, or heat transfer.
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, or Fusion 360.
• Comfort working hands-on with hardware, laboratory or shop environments, and test equipment.
• Collaborative, self-directed working style and comfort with ambiguity.
• Must meet U.S. citizenship, permanent-resident, protected-person, or applicable ITAR authorization requirements.

Nice to have

• Experience taking mechanical designs through building, assembly, and testing.
• Hands-on prototyping, machining, brazing, or welding experience.
• Experience with FEA tools such as ANSYS, Nastran, or Abaqus.
• Track-specific knowledge in turbomachinery, mechanisms, fluid systems, combustion, injectors, propulsion, or rotordynamics.
• Ability to close unfamiliar problems with minimal direction.

Culture & Benefits

• Hands-on work with launch-vehicle hardware designed, built, and tested in-house.
• Assignment to one of four tracks: Powerpack, Mechanisms, Fluids, or TCA & Thrusters.
• Daily lunch in the office.
• Fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks.