Mechanical Engineering Intern / Co-op, Satellite Bus - Winter/Spring 2027 (Aerospace)

Location: Torrance, California, United States — fully onsite. Travel to test sites, including Mojave and locations throughout the greater Los Angeles area, is expected based on program needs. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. and meet applicable ITAR eligibility requirements.

Salary: $25–$40 per hour.

Company

hirify.global is a vertically integrated space and defense company developing satellite buses, in-orbit servicing robotics, and mission hardware for low-Earth-orbit and national security applications.

What you will do

• Own scoped mechanical hardware through design, manufacturing, assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and iteration.
• Design and update mechanical components, assemblies, interfaces, prototypes, ground support equipment, and test fixtures using 3D CAD and engineering drawings.
• Work with engineers, technicians, machinists, suppliers, and test personnel to turn incomplete requirements into buildable hardware.
• Support hands-on fabrication, assembly, inspection, integration, instrumentation, data collection, teardown, and post-test inspection.
• Investigate manufacturing problems, integration issues, and test failures, then apply findings to subsequent hardware iterations.
• Document configurations, design decisions, build issues, test results, and lessons learned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field, completed or expected during 2027.
• At least one year of sustained participation in a technically rigorous student engineering project such as Formula SAE, rocketry, CubeSat, robotics, Baja SAE, or Design-Build-Fly.
• Experience taking hardware through design, fabrication, assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and redesign.
• Experience with a professional 3D CAD system and mechanical drawings; SolidWorks is preferred but not required.
• Ability to work fully onsite in Torrance, California.
• U.S. work authorization and eligibility under applicable ITAR and government export-control requirements; visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice to have

• Experience with satellite hardware, rocket propulsion, solid rocket motors, robotics, mechanisms, pressure systems, or aerospace test equipment.
• Knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, machining, sheet metal, composites, welding, additive manufacturing, or bonded assemblies.
• Experience with mechanical testing, instrumentation, data acquisition, structural analysis, or thermal analysis.
• Experience working directly with machinists, technicians, suppliers, or manufacturing vendors.

Culture & Benefits

• Part-time, temporary, non-exempt employment.
• Typical Monday–Friday work hours are approximately 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., with flexibility based on mission schedules.
• Close collaboration across electrical, mechanical, software, manufacturing, integration, and test teams.
• Hands-on work across the desk, shop floor, suppliers, and test sites.