About the role#
As a Mechanical Engineering Intern or Co-op, you will join the team developing hardware for the Space-Based Interceptor program. You will be responsible for taking defined hardware from early concept through design, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and iteration. This role involves working across the desk, shop floor, and test sites to move hardware forward in a fast-moving environment.
What you'll do#
- Own clearly scoped mechanical hardware through the full development cycle.
- Design and update mechanical components, assemblies, interfaces, prototypes, ground support equipment, and test fixtures using 3D CAD and engineering drawings.
- Collaborate with engineers, technicians, machinists, suppliers, and test personnel to turn requirements into functional hardware.
- Support hands-on fabrication, assembly, inspection, integration, and test activities, including hardware setup, instrumentation, data collection, and post-test inspection.
- Investigate manufacturing, integration, and test issues to apply learnings to future hardware iterations.
- Document hardware configurations, design decisions, build issues, test results, and lessons learned.
- Support field tests outside the Torrance office when required.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field.
- At least one year of sustained participation in a technically rigorous student engineering project with meaningful hands-on involvement.
- Experience taking hardware through multiple stages of development, including design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and troubleshooting.
- Proficiency with a professional 3D CAD system and the ability to read mechanical drawings.
- Ability to work fully onsite at the GITAI office in Torrance, California.
- U.S. citizenship is required due to potential access to export-controlled and government-controlled information.
Location & details#
- Location: Torrance, California (on-site).
- Schedule: Part-time, temporary role.
- Travel: Expected to test sites in Mojave and the greater Los Angeles area based on program needs.
- Sponsorship: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
How to get in at GITAI
Intern Insider's per-company playbook.
Securing an internship at GITAI requires staying ahead of the competition. Because the company is small, roles fill quickly. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first. Early applicants get seen before the pile grows. You should also focus on building a direct connection with the team. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company's roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the role or a referral, which materially improves response rates.
