Mechanical Engineering Intern/Co-Op [Propulsion]

ODys; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Odys Aviation seeks a Mechanical Engineering Intern/Co-Op to support the Propulsion Team onsite at our Long Beach office. You will collaborate with full-time engineers to design, build, and integrate mechanical hardware for electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, including motors, generators, inverters, and cooling hardware.

This hands-on internship lets you own real tasks from CAD to parts in hand and vehicle integration and testing, contributing directly to flight hardware development.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• Familiar with CAD tools like NX or SolidWorks.
• Hands-on fabrication experience appreciated.
• Interest in real hardware design, build, and testing.
• Ability to work independently and ask questions when needed.
• Strong attention to detail and curiosity.

Responsibilities

• Design and update propulsion mechanical components and assemblies from prototype to low-rate production.
• Design hardware for bench testing and support hardware troubleshooting.
• Help resolve design, fit, and integration issues from early builds.
• Improve designs to simplify assembly and reduce build time.
• Create and maintain CAD models and drawings with traceability.
• Assist with prototype and production hardware fabrication and assembly.
• Develop work instructions, fixtures or tooling as needed.
• Document design changes and build feedback for ramp-up.

Skills

CAD design

Hands-on fabrication

Prototype development

Independent work

Attention to detail

Curiosity

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

M.S. Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

Job description

About Odys

At Odys, we’re mobilizing power, with Hybrid Power Systems developed for aerospace and in-demand everywhere. It’s the kind of mission diversity that demands a fresh way of thinking.

We began with an early bet on hybrid, when the mobility industry was focused on batteries. We designed, tested, and validated our first 1 MW high-speed generator in 12 months. And then we pushed further, developing systems with greater power density in less time. Today, our Hybrid Power Systems offer outputs ranging from 20 kW to 4 MW, with applications in the air or on the ground.

One of those applications is Laila, an unmanned drone designed for critical logistics and defense missions. With its 100 kW-class onboard Hybrid Power System, Laila can support medical cold-chain transport or serve as an aerial platform for counter-UAS measures.

The market interest has been overwhelming: Over 30 inbound requests from leading US and global manufacturers, and 14+ DoD contracts.

Our team comes from deep tech and aerospace, with backgrounds spanning drone and aircraft development, high-volume production, and electrified mobility.

We operate with urgency and ownership at every level. We validated high-speed generator technology faster than our peers, not because we skipped steps, but because we've been doing this long enough to know which ones matter most.

Creating the future of power, in the air and on the ground, is a challenge we’ve been training our entire lives for. If that sounds like you, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

About The Role

Odys Aviation is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Intern/Co-Op to support the Propulsion Team. We are looking for someone who can work onsite at our Long Beach office 30-40 hrs/week for at least 10 weeks.

In this role, you’ll work closely with full-time engineers to design, build, and integrate mechanical hardware that supports electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, including motors, generators, inverters, and cooling hardware.

This is a hands‑on internship where you’ll own real engineering tasks and contribute directly to flight hardware development—from CAD to parts in hand to vehicle integration and testing.

What You’ll Do

1. Design and update propulsion mechanical components and assemblies as we transition from prototype builds to low-rate production

2. Design hardware for bench testing and support hardware troubleshooting alongside propulsion engineers

3. Help resolve design, fit and integration issues discovered during early builds

4. Implement design improvements to simplify assembly, improve repeatability and reduce build time

5. Create and maintain CAD models and drawings, following process to ensure traceability of design changes

6. Assist with prototype and production hardware fabrication and assembly, learning firsthand how designs translate to the shop floor

7. Develop work instructions, fixtures or tooling as needed to support assembly

8. Document design changes, build feedback and lessons learned to support production ramp up

What We’re Looking For

1. Currently pursuing a B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field

2. Comfortable designing hardware using CAD (NX, SolidWorks, or similar)

3. Familiarity with common manufacturing processes; hands‑on fabrication experience strongly preferred

4. Enjoys being hands‑on—designing, building, and integrating real hardware

5. Able to work independently, take ownership of tasks, and ask good questions when needed

6. Strong curiosity, attention to detail, and desire to make a meaningful impact

Nice to Have

1. Participation in student project teams (UAVs, Formula SAE, robotics, rocketry, etc.)

2. Experience with rapid prototyping (3D printing, basic machining, shop tools)

3. Interest in propulsion systems, electric powertrains, or flight hardware