About the role#
As a Mechanical Engineering Intern, you will join our team in Golden, Colorado, to work on the design and development of satellite hardware. This role offers the opportunity to take a project from initial requirements through to detailed design, analysis, and documentation. You will receive mentorship and work across engineering disciplines to see how mechanical systems integrate into a spacecraft.
What you'll do#
- Translate project needs into mechanical requirements and design constraints.
- Develop concepts and detailed 3D CAD models for satellite hardware.
- Perform structural analysis and support design validation.
- Create engineering drawings, including dimensions and tolerances.
- Coordinate with electrical, systems, and manufacturing teams.
- Support prototyping, manufacturing, and design iteration.
- Contribute to mechanical engineering standards and documentation.
- Present your work and key learnings at the end of the internship.
What you'll need#
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (undergraduates must be rising juniors or seniors).
- Experience with CAD or 3D modeling through coursework, projects, or previous internships.
- A foundational understanding of mechanical design and analysis.
- Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
- Curiosity and initiative regarding hands-on spacecraft hardware development.
- Experience with machining, manufacturing, or prototyping is preferred.
- Exposure to electronics packaging or mechanical design for electrical components is a plus.
- Participation in multidisciplinary engineering teams like robotics, Formula SAE, rocketry, or CubeSat is preferred.
- Experience leading a school, club, or technical project is a plus.
Location & details#
- Location: On-site in Golden, Colorado.
- Term: Full-time, 10 to 12 weeks during Summer 2027.
- Compensation: $30.00 per hour.
- Benefits: Daily catered lunches and snacks in the office, plus housing and relocation support for those traveling from outside the local area.
About Loft Orbital
Loft Orbital builds space infrastructure to help organizations access space. The company develops standardized satellite platforms that support various missions. It uses hardware and software abstraction layers on top of commodity satellite buses. Founded in 2017, the firm maintains offices in San Francisco, Toulouse, and Golden. It employs approximately 365 people.
How to get in at Loft Orbital
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