Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Fall 2026

Thea Energy; Kearny (NJ); On-site; USD 27,552 - 41,328; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary: $25/hour

Job summary

Thea Energy in New Jersey is seeking a student intern in mechanical/aerospace/materials engineering to support manufacturing and tooling development. You will assist in creating SOPs, working drawings, and quality criteria for magnet assembly, and collaborate with magnet designers and manufacturing engineers.

You will gain hands-on experience with fabrication processes, CAD design (SolidWorks/NX), and problem-solving across multidisciplinary projects, while developing documentation, inventory,

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• Strong foundational understanding of engineering drawings and spatial mechanics (exposure to GD&T is a major plus).
• Hands-on project experience (e.g., Formula SAE, rocketry club, robotics club) involving mechanical or electrical hardware design, build, and test.
• Direct experience with fabrication or assembly processes such as machining (hand tools, manual mill, CNC), fastened and bonded assemblies, soldering, etc.
• Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, NX).
• Ability to work through and solve highly multidisciplinary engineering problems
• Ability to take initiative, work independently and as part of a team
• Exceptional work ethic, with clear communication and collaboration skills

Responsibilities

• Generate and update manufacturing docs (SOPs, work instructions, quality criteria) for magnet assembly.
• Design, prototype, and commission tooling, fixtures, and equipment.
• Collaborate with magnet designers to implement lessons from the shop floor.
• Manage inventory (virtual/physical) and update BOMs.
• Assist in procurement, vendor specs, and incoming part quality.
• Track production metrics and test results against milestones.

Skills

Engineering drawings

GD&T

Hands-on projects

Fabrication/assembly

CAD software

Multidisciplinary problem solving

Initiative & teamwork

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical field

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Job description

About Thea Energy:

Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future.

Ideal Experience & Skillsets:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• Strong foundational understanding of engineering drawings and spatial mechanics (exposure to GD&T is a major plus).
• Hands‑on project experience (e.g., Formula SAE, rocketry club, robotics club, etc.) involving mechanical or electrical hardware design, build, and test.
• Direct experience with fabrication or assembly processes such as machining (hand tools, manual mill, CNC), fastened and bonded assemblies, soldering, etc.
• Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, NX).
• Ability to work through and solve highly multidisciplinary engineering problems
• Ability to take initiative, work independently and as part of a team
• Exceptional work ethic, with clear communication and collaboration skills

Company Benefits:

• Salary range $25/hour

Requirements:

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in generating and updating manufacturing documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and quality criteria for HTS magnet assembly.
• Support design, prototyping, and commissioning of custom manufacturing tooling, fixtures, and equipment.
• Work alongside magnet designers and manufacturing engineers to incorporate "lessons learned" from the shop floor into future designs.
• Manage virtual and physical inventory, organize assembly areas, and update manufacturing Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Assist hardware procurement, evaluating vendor specs, and ensuring incoming parts meet quality standards.
• Track production metrics, test results, and progress against critical program milestones.

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Diversity and Inclusion:

Thea Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a company of diverse backgrounds. By creating a diverse environment, we will bring new ideas and approaches to solving some of the world’s hardest (and most important) problems. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, family or marital status, age, disability, veteran’s status, or other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.