About the role#
As a Thermal & Manufacturing Engineering Intern, you will work with our Mission Engineering & Analysis and Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) teams. You will help improve how thermal interface materials, such as gap pads, thermal tapes, and graphite sheets, are selected, prepared, and used in spacecraft assembly. This role involves hands-on work where you will take processes from initial experiments through validation and documentation to final use in satellite assembly.
What you'll do#
- Plan and conduct trials to compare materials and cutting methods like laser, digital knife, or die-cutting.
- Evaluate cut quality, dimensional accuracy, material handling, and contamination risks.
- Develop a repeatable workflow from CAD drawings to cut parts and assembly-ready kits.
- Establish drawing and DXF file conventions, document cutting settings, and define inspection steps.
- Create work instructions and inspection checklists in collaboration with AIT teams.
- Develop approaches for labeling, protective liners, packaging, and handling.
- Present findings and recommend materials and processes that balance thermal requirements with manufacturing needs.
What you'll need#
- Current pursuit of a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Undergraduate students must be rising juniors or rising seniors.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software and the ability to create clear engineering drawings.
- Hands-on fabrication or test experience through projects, research, internships, or shop work.
- Ability to plan structured experiments, record data, and analyze results using Python or Excel.
- Strong written communication skills for documenting procedures and findings.
- Familiarity with Python scripting, heat transfer principles, and cleanroom practices is preferred.
- Exposure to spaceflight hardware, ESD, and contamination control is a plus.
Location & details#
- This is a full-time, 10-12 week internship for Summer 2027.
- The role is based on-site in Golden, Colorado.
- This position is paid at $30.00 per hour.
- Housing and relocation support is available for interns 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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