Mechanical Engineering Intern - Field-Ready Optics Mounts

Overview Energy, Inc.; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Overview Energy is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Intern to design the mounting structure for our ground beacon system, ensuring portability, modularity, and co-location with the observational telescope. You will own tradeoffs between transportability, stiffness, and alignment, and you will develop CAD models and drawings for fabrication.

The internship runs Sep 2026–Mar 2027, on-site in Northern Virginia, with an hourly rate of $30–$40.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program in mechanical or aerospace engineering with graduation Spring 2027.
• Proficient in CAD; NX preferred.
• Coursework in statics, mechanics of materials, and vibrations.
• Hands-on fabrication or assembly experience (machine shop, Formula SAE, robotics, or research lab).
• Commit to 5-10 hours per week on-site in Northern Virginia from Sep 2026 to Mar 2027.

Responsibilities

• Design system mounting for pre-delivery, in transit, and installed at the test site.
• Trade portability and modularity against stiffness and alignment retention, and document the reasoning behind the design you pick.
• Design a transportable platform to house beacon equipment.
• Build parametric CAD models and produce drawings a machine shop can quote and manufacture.
• Analyze environmental effects on the installed system, including temperature and wind loading, and quantify the impact on pointing stability.
• Characterize transportation effects - shock, vibration, and handling - and recommend mitigations.
• Support setup, teardown, and field checkout with the optics team.

Skills

CAD proficiency

NX experience

FEA experience

Vibration analysis

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX

CAD

Job description

Overview Energy is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Intern to design the mounting structure for our ground beacon system, ensuring portability, modularity, and co-location with the observational telescope. You will own tradeoffs between transportability, stiffness, and alignment, and you will develop CAD models and drawings for fabrication.

The internship runs Sep 2026–Mar 2027, on-site in Northern Virginia, with an hourly rate of $30–$40.