Mechanical Engineer - Intern

Durin Mining Technologies; El Segundo (CA); Remote; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

Durin Mining Technologies in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Mechanical Engineer Intern to design from first principles, prototype rapidly, and test hardware. You will work closely with machinists, build and modify parts in the shop, and verify assemblies with hands-on experiments.

The role emphasizes practical experience with SAE/Baja/Solar Car style projects and a strong bias toward learning by doing, with remote-friendly options available for the internship.

Qualifications

• CAD fluency to model assemblies from napkin sketches to production-ready drawings.
• Understanding how things are made, machining capabilities and tolerances.
• Hands-on experience building or testing moving hardware.
• Ability to perform quick free-body diagrams and basic calculations to validate designs.

Responsibilities

• Design from First Principles and model complex mechanical assemblies in CAD.
• Spend 30-50% time in the shop assembling, modifying, and repairing designs.
• Use 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC machining for rapid prototyping to validate ideas.
• Design test fixtures and torture-test hardware to identify breaking points before customers.
• Communicate with machine shops and suppliers to get parts made to spec and on time.

Skills

CAD Fluency

Mechanical Sympathy

Practical Experience

FEA/Hand Calcs

GD&T Basics

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Job description

Mechanical Engineer - Intern

Durin Mining Technologies

El Segundo, California

Contract

NEW REMOTE

Durin was founded under the belief that raw materials should not be a constraint on civilization's progress. We are actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of becoming the foundation of the global supply chain.

What You Will Actually Do

• Design from First Principles: You will model complex mechanical assemblies in CAD (SolidWorks/NX), moving from napkin sketches to production-ready drawings by owning sub-assemblies.
• Get Your Hands Dirty: You will spend 30-50% of your time in the shop. You will assemble, modify, and repair your designs. If a part doesn’t fit, you will find out why and fix it.
• Rapid Prototyping: You will utilize 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC machining to validate ideas in hours, not weeks.
• Test to Failure: You will design test fixtures and torture-test hardware to find the breaking points before our customers do.
• Vendor Management: You will communicate directly with machine shops and suppliers to get parts made to spec and on time.

The Toolbox (Requirements)

• CAD Fluency: You are fast in CAD. You understand top-down design and can manage large assemblies without breaking references.
• Mechanical Sympathy: You understand how things are made. You know the difference between 3-axis and 5-axis machining. You understand why we don't put tight tolerances on non-critical dimensions.
• Practical Experience: You have built things that move. Formula SAE, Baja, Solar Car, Rocketry, or BattleBots experience is highly preferred. We want to see what you built, not just what you studied.
• FEA/Hand Calcs: You can do a quick free-body diagram on a whiteboard to prove your design is safe before you open the simulation software.
• GD&T Basics: You can create a drawing that a machinist can actually read.

Who You Are:

• Obsessive: You have "garage projects." You take things apart to see how they work. You are learning new skills on the weekends because you want to, not because you have to.
• High Agency: You don’t wait for permission.
• Resilient: You don't hide your mistakes. When you break a part (and you will), you own it, analyze the root cause, and fix it immediately.
• Do not apply if: You prefer working fully remotely. Hardware happens in real life.
• Do not apply if: You are looking for a slow-paced, structured corporate environment with 3 weeks of orientation.
• Do not apply if: You are uncomfortable using a drill press, band saw, or soldering iron.