Mechanical Engineering Intern

Nucleon; New York (NY); On-site; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Nucleon, a startup focused on radiation testing for space and defense, offers a 12‑week Summer 2027 internship in New York, NY or Huntsville, AL. Pay is location-based: $35/hour in New York and $30/hour in Huntsville, with 1.5x overtime for hours over 40 per week.

You will collaborate with Radiation Effects Engineers to develop test procedures, assist with planning and documentation, and help improve equipment portability in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree with junior/senior standing in 2026-2027.
• Minimum GPA of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale.
• Demonstrated interest in radiation effects and lab testing.
• Hands-on lab experience with power supplies, oscilloscopes, and multimeters.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with Radiation Effects Engineers to develop test procedures and maintain equipment.
• Support internal R&D in radiation modeling, device characterization, and reliability.
• Assist with test planning, setup, and documentation of campaigns.
• Improve equipment packing by designing smaller, lighter portable storage.
• Assist with heating tests for PCB concepts and panel evaluations.
• Analyze results and contribute to final report deliverables.

Skills

Test equipment

Oscilloscopes

Multimeters

Power supplies

SolidWorks

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree (Bachelor's/Master's/Doctorate)

GPA 3.50+

Tools

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*, Masters, 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.