Mechanical Engineering Intern

Nucleon; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Nucleon is a hardware-focused startup conducting radiation test campaigns for satellites, spacecraft, and defense systems. Interns assist Radiation Effects Engineers with test planning, setup, documentation, and data analysis to support reliability studies.

The 12-week Summer 2027 internship offers hourly compensation by location and hands-on exposure to lab testing, radiation modeling, and electronics reliability, with opportunities to contribute to final deliverables.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree with a GPA of at least 3.50.
• Interest in radiation effects and lab testing.
• Hands‑on experience with power supplies, oscilloscopes, and DMMs.
• Familiar with CAD tools such as SolidWorks.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• U.S. Persons per export regulations (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident).
• Applicants must be juniors or seniors in the 2026–2027 academic year.

Responsibilities

• Develop test procedures and ensure lab readiness.
• Support internal R&D in radiation modeling and electronics reliability.
• Assist with test planning, setup, and documentation.
• Improve equipment packing with lighter, more portable storage solutions.
• Assist with heated PCB concept testing and panel evaluations.
• Analyze test results and contribute to final reports.

Skills

Test lab equipment

SolidWorks

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelors/Masters/PhD in Mechanical Engineering

GPA 3.50

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Digital multimeters

Power supplies

SolidWorks

Job description

About Nucleon:

Electronics in space and defense systems have to survive radiation, and they have to be tested to prove it. Nucleon helps the companies building satellites, spacecraft, and defense systems do exactly that. We run radiation test campaigns (total ionizing dose, heavy-ion, proton, and neutron) at accelerator facilities across the country, analyze how parts will perform once they’re in orbit, and maintain a growing database of radiation test data on modern components.

Nucleon was founded in 2022 and has offices in New York and Huntsville. Our team includes engineers from SpaceX, GE, Tesla, and the Missile Defense Agency, and our work goes directly into the hardware that gets launched.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with Radiation Effects Engineers to develop test procedures, ensure lab readiness, maintain equipment, and improve test efficiency.
• Support ongoing internal R&D efforts in radiation modeling, device characterization, and electronics reliability.
• Support radiation effects testing campaigns by assisting with test planning, test setup, and test documentation.
• Improve equipment packing by developing smaller, lighter, and more portable storage solutions.
• Assist with basic testing related to heated PCB concepts, including exploring ways to warm test coupons during panel evaluations.
• Analyze test results and contribute to the generation of final report deliverables.

Required Qualifications:

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s*, Master’s, or Doctorate degree in an accredited Mechanical Engineering program.
• Must have earned a minimum 3.50 GPA.
• Demonstrated interest in radiation effects.
• Hands‑on experience with test lab equipment, including power supplies, oscilloscopes, and digital multimeters.
• Familiarity with SolidWorks or similar CAD tools for basic mechanical design.
• Strong willingness to learn and collaborate within a team environment.
• Genuine interest in contributing to and growing with a fast‑paced startup.
• Excellent problem‑solving, documentation, and cross‑disciplinary communication skills.
• Applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined by U.S. export regulations (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident).

*Applicants pursuing a bachelor’s degree must be classified as juniors or seniors in the 2026–2027 academic year.

Duration and Compensation:

• 12-week internship during Summer 2027.
• Hourly pay by location:
• New York, NY: $35/hour
• Huntsville, AL: $30/hour
• This is a non‑exempt hourly position. Hours beyond 40 per week require advance approval from your manager and are paid at 1.5× the hourly rate.
• Relocation benefits are not provided.