Mechanical Engineering Co-op (Winter/Spring 2027)

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

RTX offers a full-time, on-site co-op in Cedar Rapids, IA, focusing on mechanical engineering duties and rapid prototyping. The program runs January through July/August, encouraging students to take a semester off to engage fully as a working mentor.

Responsibilities include CAD-based design, documentation, and supporting production with mechanical analysis, plus cross-functional collaboration to address design and testing challenges.

Qualifications

• Pursuing Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related STEM major and enrolled through internship start.
• Experience with CAD software such as NX, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Creo or equivalent.
• Minimum 45 credit hours by the start of the internship/co-op.

Responsibilities

• Perform assignments applying mechanical engineering principles and operate a 3D printer as print manager.
• Develop designs, create documentation, and support production with mechanical analysis.
• Contribute to cross-functional team efforts to solve production and field-testing problems.
• Interact with Operations Support updating documentation to support production.
• Coordinate, track, and plan 3D printer operation, maintenance, and productivity; showcase rapid prototyping value.

Education

Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related STEM major

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Creo

Job description

Location

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-112 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 112

Date Posted

2026-10-13

Country

United States of America

Position Role Type

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Security Clearance Type

None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status

Not Required

Are you ready to explore the world of aerospace and defense? Do you want to learn from and collaborate with some of the greatest minds in the industry? At RTX, our internships, co-ops and full-time careers provide an exceptional foundation to work on complex problems, advance your skills and create a safer, more connected world. Discover opportunities to make a difference at RTX.

What You Will Do

Immerse yourself in a full-time, Monday-Friday co-op session, that will run January- July/August (including the Spring semester; it is expected students will take a semester off from coursework to fully engage with this working mentorship opportunity).

• Perform assignments requiring the use and application of moderate to complex mechanical engineering principles and techniques as well as daily interaction with our 3D printer acting as print manager
• Develop designs, create and modify documentation, support production with mechanical analysis and troubleshooting
• Contribute to the success of a cross-functional team to develop solutions to production and field-testing problems. This could include initial design, prototyping, and environment testing solutions.
• Interact with Operations Support responding to documentation and design updates needed to support production.
• Develop a system for coordinating, tracking, and planning 3D printer operation, maintenance, and productivity. Will be responsible for understanding and showcasing the value that rapid prototyping brings to our organization as well as developing and reinforcing best practices to be used in other sites.

What You Will Learn

• How to communicate design changes through redlines and engineering change orders
• Mechanical design practices for fixturing design
• 3D printer operation and maintenance
• How to organize tasks from many customers, varying in complexity
• Develop proficiency in test system architecture, design requirements, system integration, and design validation

Qualifications You Must Have

• Must be pursuing Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) major and actively enrolled through the completion of the internship/co-op session.
• Experience with computer aided design (CAD) software such as NX, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Creo, or equivalent.
• Must have a minimum of 45 hours of credit by the start of the internship / co-op session

Experience may be obtained through on-the-job experience, research, coursework, or projects.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with mechanical engineering design and analysis
• Experience working in a team environment where there may be gaps in information that require research
• Experience with 3D modelling, printing, and mechanical design experience
• Experience in typical fabrication processes (CNC, welding, sheet metal fab, additive, etc.)
• Experience in creation of robust documentation of machined and fabricated components and exposure and understanding of GD&T principles

What We Offer

• Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Safety, Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation.
• Relocation Eligibility

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.

The salary range for this role is 37,000 USD - 82,000 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance.

This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.

RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

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