Actuation Engineering Intern (Summer) (Aerospace)

Location: North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA; hands-on work in the actuation lab.

Company

hirify.global is developing Seagliders, wing-in-ground-effect vehicles designed for fast, affordable, and sustainable coastal transportation of passengers and cargo.

What you will do

• Construct test stands and jigs, install actuators and drives, and work directly with test hardware.
• Run performance evaluations and compare actuator and drive-system models to assess tradeoffs and capabilities.
• Interpret vendor datasheets and manuals, communicate with vendors, and clarify product specifications and communication requirements.
• Use Python and other programming tools to communicate with actuators and drives, collect data, and verify behavior.
• Support qualification of actuators and drives for the Viceroy and Squire Seagliders, including CAD-based assembly arrangements.
• Compile evaluation results into presentations for mechanical and electrical engineering teams.

Requirements

• Rising senior or graduate student in mechanical, electrical, aerospace, mechatronics engineering, or a related field, with solid engineering fundamentals.
• Mechanical aptitude and comfort using hand tools, building jigs, and handling hardware.
• Working knowledge of Python or a similar programming language for communicating with actuators and drives and interpreting their data.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including communication with external vendors.
• Ability to collaborate with engineers, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
• Adaptability, practical problem-solving ability, curiosity, and a continuous-improvement mindset.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with actuators, communication protocols, or temperature, force, strain, or position sensors.
• Experience with 3D CAD and engineering drawings.
• Experience with low-voltage DC power circuits.
• Familiarity with MATLAB or Simulink for actuator-data processing and actuation-system modeling.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive compensation and a housing stipend for those temporarily moving to join the team.
• Daily free catered lunches.
• Learning and professional-development opportunities.
• Mentorship and guidance from experienced team members.
• Meaningful engineering projects contributing to a new coastal-transportation product category.
• Collaborative, fast-paced startup environment with increasing independence during the internship.