Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering Internship (Path to Full Time Hire)

Space Kinetic Corp.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 27,552 - 41,328; Full time

Job summary

Space Kinetic Corp. in El Segundo, CA is seeking an Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering Intern for a hands-on, three-month internship. This role will entail working on significant projects including CAD design for prototypes and collaborating with the engineering team to support a flight demonstration in the next two years.

Ideal candidates are engineering students or recent graduates passionate about space technology, capable of working in a fast-paced environment. The role requires U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency.

The pay range for this position is between $20 and $30 USD per hour.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled for an engineering degree in an accredited college or university, or a recent graduate.
• Experience in solid modeling, drawing release of structures, and actuator mechanisms.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, self-driven entrepreneurial workplace.

Responsibilities

• Support engineering to help design and build prototypes for core technology.
• Finalize CAD design, enhance design through precise tolerancing.
• Collaborate with vendors to source components and support FEA simulations.

Skills

Solid modeling

Experience with CAD software

Passion for design and manufacturing

Analytical skills

Education

Currently enrolled in engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Who We Are

Space Kinetic is a dual‑use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low‑cost, operationally flexible, attritable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head‑on. Our goal is to move away from one‑to‑one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small number) of primary payloads attached to the bus – and unlock a one‑to‑many system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads that can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.

Our Intern Program

Space Kinetic’s internship program is designed to identify top early‑career talent for potential full‑time roles. Over a three‑month program, interns are paired with a mentor, assigned one to three meaningful projects, and provide monthly progress updates to leadership. Interns who demonstrate strong performance, ownership, and alignment with Space Kinetic’s mission may receive a full‑time offer upon successful completion of the internship.

What You’ll Do

As an Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering Intern you will acquire hands‑on learning experience while working on meaningful projects to gain significant career experience. You will support engineering to help design and build prototypes for Space Kinetic’s core technology to achieve our mission of a flight demo within the next two years in a fast‑paced startup environment. You will work with the manufacturing and engineering team to finalize the current prototype’s CAD design, enhance the design through precise tolerancing across all prototype development stages, finalize mechanism designs, and deliver detailed CAD drawings for manufacturing. You will collaborate with vendors to source components, support finite element analysis (FEA) simulations for the system, and create models for both the current prototype and the full‑scale system.

What It Takes

• Currently enrolled for an engineering degree in an accredited college or university, or a recent college graduate or graduating within the last semester.
• Passion for design, manufacturing, and testing of space systems and/or mechanisms.
• Experience in solid modeling, drawing release of structures, and actuator mechanisms.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, self‑driven entrepreneurial workplace.
• Experience with CAD software (SolidWorks).
• U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency (green card holder).
• Ability to maintain or obtain government security clearance.

What We’d Love

• Master’s degree or PhD in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
• Strong analytical skills, creative and innovative thinking, detail‑oriented, calm under pressure, enthusiastic, receptive to criticism, and effective in written communication.
• Experience with mechanical FEA tools, additive manufacturing, CNC machining, and testing of in‑space operations.
• Passion for space‑grade components and ratings, and for the commercial and government space industry.

Where You’ll Be

The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (green card holder), refugee, asylee, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Pay Range

Pay Range: $20 USD – $30 USD