Fall CO-OP Student (Mechanical Engineering, 07-71)

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 34,440 - 44,083; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Technical and professional development courses

Mentorship opportunities

Diverse workplace with work-life balance

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA, is seeking a CO‑OP student for their Mechanical Engineering Group. This role involves assisting with engineering design, structural analysis, and hands-on prototyping. Candidates should be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program related to mechanical or aerospace engineering with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The position offers a competitive hourly compensation rate of $25 to $32 per hour, based on the year in school, along with exposure to cutting-edge technology in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Enrollment in an undergraduate degree program in a relevant field.
• Completion of Mechanics of Materials or equivalent class.
• GPA of 3.5/4.0 or higher.

Responsibilities

• Assist with engineering design using CAD software.
• Conduct structural analysis and finite element modeling.
• Engage in hands-on prototyping and testing.

Skills

CAD software (SolidWorks)

Finite element analysis

Prototyping

Education

Undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautics/Astronautics, Aerospace Engineering, or Physics

Job description

Date: Jul 1, 2026

Location: Lexington, MA, US

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

The Mechanical Engineering Group provides innovative mechanical solutions for a wide range of advanced technologies. Our work has been in the areas of laser communication, high‑energy lasers, telescopes, biomechanical materials, hypersonics, and radars, for systems deployed on ground, maritime, air- and space‑borne platforms. We have expertise in precision engineering, opto‑mechanisms, electronics packaging, large structures, composite materials, and additive manufacturing. We are the Engineering Division's center for 3D design and data management, and are involved in every step of a program's execution from conceptual design to system integration and test.

Position Description

The group seeks a CO‑OP to assist technical staff members with cutting‑edge research and program execution in the Mechanical/Aerospace engineering field. Duties could include:

• Engineering design including concept development using CAD software (SolidWorks) to make part models, generate drawings, manage assemblies, and ensure proper fabrication of parts.
• Structural analysis including creating and running finite element models, analyzing model results, structural or thermal testing, and creating databases.
• Hands‑on work including prototyping, 3D printing, assembly, integration and testing of mechanical, opto‑mechanical, and electro‑mechanical systems. Testing duties may include test design, execution, and data analysis.

In addition to specific technical tasks, employment at Lincoln Laboratory offers:

• The opportunity to generate real‑world impact to national security and broader society through your work on challenging technology problems.
• Exposure to a broad and deep range of technologies, expertise, and senior government stakeholders.
• A strong culture of team success through individual growth. This includes technical and professional development courses, and mentorship opportunities to continue your career journey.
• A diverse workplace with an emphasis on work‑life balance, employee resource groups, and other exciting opportunities.

The successful candidate will be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program of study in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautics/Astronautics, Aerospace Engineering, or Physics and have completed Mechanics of Materials or equivalent class. CAD, finite element analysis or prototyping experience is preferred, but not required. Candidates considered must have a GPA 3.5/4.0 or higher.

Compensation for 2026: $25 – $32 per hour (based on year in school)

Eligibility requirement: Must be currently enrolled at a college or university that offers a formal co‑op program and be eligible to participate in that program. Students whose schools do not offer a co‑op program are not eligible for this position.

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre‑employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.

Requisition ID: 43115