Mechanical Engineer (Spring 2027 Co-op)

Reframe Systems; Andover (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Reframe Systems in Andover, MA is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Co-op to join FAB1’s ME team this fall. You’ll design, model, build, test, and iterate real mechanical components for factory workcells and tooling.

You’ll spend time in the shop using mills, lathes, laser cutters, welders, and 3D printers, moving quickly from concept to CAD to a tangible prototype, with feedback driving improvements toward production readiness.

Qualifications

• Pursuing BS in Mechanical Engineering; junior or senior preferred.
• Solid CAD skills and ability to go from rough idea to modeled part quickly.
• Comfort operating shop tools and equipment (mills, lathes, laser cutters, welding, 3D printing).
• Fast learner with ability to pick up new tools and projects with minimal ramp-up.
• Strong communicator and team player across rotating projects.
• Availability for full-time, semester-length co-op in Billerica, MA this fall.

Responsibilities

• Design and iterate fast on real mechanical design problems across FAB1 projects.
• Fabricate and assemble prototypes using shop equipment.
• Rotate across multiple active workstreams; contribute across projects.
• Test and troubleshoot designs on the shop floor toward production readiness.
• Produce clear CAD models and basic drawings for production.

Skills

CAD proficiency

Fast learner

Strong communicator

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Bias toward action

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Junior or Senior standing

Tools

Onshape

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

Job description

About Us

Reframe Systems is a Physical AI and robotics company on a mission to make high-performance housing attainable and abundant in the communities where people want to live. Through our vertically integrated delivery model and highly automated microfactories, we deliver climate-resilient homes and buildings with greater speed and predictability than traditional construction.

Our volumetric modular buildings are produced in our Andover, MA microfactory, with a growing pipeline across North America and a new microfactory on the way. We are building a system that balances repeatability with site-responsive design, enabling homes adaptable to each site, community, and customer need. Our cross-disciplinary team brings together architecture, robotics, design engineering, software, factory operations, and field delivery to change how housing gets delivered.

We're reimagining the future of housing through a smarter and more sustainable system that empowers people to live better. Come build it with us.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a Mechanical Engineering Co-op to join our team at FAB1, our first full-scale microfactory in Billerica, MA, this fall. This role is built for someone who loves the full loop of engineering: sketch it, model it, build it, test it, and fix it — fast. You'll rotate across active projects on our Mechanical Engineering team, working alongside engineers designing the workcells, fixturing, and production infrastructure that make our factory run.

This is a hands-on role. You'll spend real time in the shop — cutting, welding, printing, and machining your own parts — not just handing drawings off to someone else. We move quickly here, so we need someone who can take a rough idea, iterate on it in CAD, get a physical version in hand, and improve it based on what they learn, on a tight timeline.

What You'll Do

• Design and Iterate Fast: Take on real mechanical design problems across FAB1 projects — fixtures, workstations, material handling, tooling — and move quickly from concept to CAD to working prototype.

• Build What You Design: Fabricate and assemble your own prototypes and production hardware using mills, lathes, laser cutters, welders, 3D printers, and standard shop tools.

• Rotate Across Projects: Work across multiple active workstreams on the ME team rather than a single fixed project, picking up context quickly and contributing wherever the team needs hands and ideas.

• Test and Improve: Validate your designs on the shop floor, troubleshoot what doesn't work, and iterate toward a production-ready result.

• Support Documentation: Produce clear CAD models and basic technical drawings that a teammate or vendor could build from.

• Learn the Full Stack: Get exposure to how mechanical design connects to robotics, automation, and factory operations in a live manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a BS in Mechanical Engineering or a related field; junior or senior standing preferred.

• Solid CAD skills (Onshape, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar) and the ability to go from a rough idea to a modeled part quickly.

• Comfortable and safe operating shop tools and equipment — mills, lathes, laser cutters, welding, 3D printing, hand and power tools.

• A fast learner who can pick up new tools, processes, and project context with minimal ramp-up.

• Bias toward action: you'd rather build a rough prototype and learn from it than perfect a design on paper.

• Strong communicator who works well within a team and can take direction from multiple engineers across rotating projects.

• Available for a full-time, semester-length co-op in Billerica, MA this fall.

Nice to Have

• Prior shop, machine design, or robotics club/competition experience (FSAE, FRC, Baja SAE, etc.).

• Experience with sheet metal, weldments, or basic structural design.

• Exposure to manufacturing, construction, or factory automation environments.

• Familiarity with GD&T fundamentals.