Manufacturing Engineer Intern

RippleMatch Inc.; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

RippleMatch Inc. is seeking a motivated student to join our aerospace manufacturing teams supporting the Terran R program. You will collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality engineers and external vendors to drive progress on high‑fidelity assembly processes.

This role emphasizes solving problems in ambiguous environments, gaining hands‑on manufacturing exposure, and translating feedback into improved designs and processes for Terran R block upgrades.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a relevant engineering degree.
• 1+ years relevant internship experience preferred, not required.
• To be successful in this role you need to thrive in ambiguity and define the undefined.
• Balance a scrappy, get‑it‑done attitude with a long‑term process vision.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineers across design, manufacturing, and quality, and internal production teams and external vendors to drive progress.
• Support process improvements across multiple work centers to improve assembly operations and incorporate learnings for Terran R builds.
• Generate high quality work instructions, specifications, and best practices across multiple high‑fidelity processes.
• Provide Design for Manufacturing feedback to teams throughout the development of Terran R block upgrades.

Skills

Manufacturing technologies familiarity

Education

Pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or industrial engineering

Job description

About the Teams

Engine Manufacturing: The Engine Manufacturing team is dedicated to delivering high-performance engines and advancing innovative manufacturing systems that continuously improve cost, quality, and lead time. You’re not just executing on designs; you actively provide input that shapes new hardware iterations and regularly interface with engineers to make critical decisions for the Aeon R program. Having successfully developed and refined processes for our initial development engines, the team is now focused on producing flight engines at rate for Terran R’s aggressive launch manifest.

Machine Shop: The Machine Shop team delivers high-precision, high-quality machined components that are critical to Terran R’s success. Here, you’ll combine technical skill with creativity, collaborating closely with engineering and design teams to drive better part designs and manufacturing solutions. You’ll work with best-in‑class, premium machinery and get to bring our expanded, state‑of‑the‑art machine shop to life to support the scale and pace of the Terran R program. This role offers the rare chance to see your craftsmanship directly integrated into flight hardware, making an immediate impact. With clear training pathways, you’ll have opportunities to advance from operating machines to programming them, growing your career alongside the program.

Stage Manufacturing: The Stage Manufacturing team turns design into reality, owning the build of Terran R’s primary structures. This isn’t about turning the same bolt every day; it’s about building the systems to build the rocket. Engineers and technicians work side by side, with deep collaboration and real‑time feedback, to shape how we build better and faster. With a manifest and a launch date, it’s up to the team to deliver on Terran R: solving challenges in real time, optimizing for scale, and constantly improving processes. As the vehicle evolves, so will the factory, with opportunities to apply automation, machine learning, and advanced technologies. What we build here sets the blueprint for the future of scaled launch.

About the Role

• Collaborate with a diverse team of engineers specializing in design, manufacturing, and quality, as well as internal production teams and external vendors, leveraging their collective expertise to drive progress

• Support process improvements across multiple work centers to improve assembly operations and incorporate feedback and learnings for future Terran R builds

• Generate high quality work instructions, specifications, and best practices across multiple high‑fidelity processes

• Provide Design for Manufacturing feedback to teams throughout the development of current and future Terran R block upgrades

About You

• Pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or industrial engineering

• 1+ years relevant internship experience preferred, not required

• To be successful in this role you need to be able to thrive in ambiguity, identify problems and quickly resolve them, and provide definition to the previously undefined

• You will need to balance a scrappy, get‑it‑done attitude with a vision for long‑term processes required for scaling and efficiency

• Familiarity with manufacturing technologies
  

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.