Mechanical Engineering Intern (Spring 2027)

Second Order Effects; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 63,360 - 77,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Work from home

Health insurance for employee

Family coverage

Paid time off

401(k) match

Housing stipend

EV charging

Catered lunches

Job summary

Second Order Effects in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Intern to support the design, development, and testing of complex mechanical systems for customer projects. You will contribute across the full development lifecycle from concept and simulation to prototyping, validation, and integration.

You will use CAD, FEA, and hand calculations to design robust mechanisms, perform thermal and structural analyses, and support manufacturability with a hands-on approach that

Qualifications

• Current enrollment in a college program in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Robotics, or related field.
• Experience in designing, modeling, simulation, and testing of electromechanical components or assemblies.
• Experience with hand calculations, finite element analysis (FEA), and computer-aided design (CAD).
• Demonstrated passion and curiosity for mechanical engineering.
• Strong problem-solving skills and initiative to overcome technical challenges.
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills; ability to explain design decisions and component selections.

Responsibilities

• Ownership: Contribute to the design of mechanical systems for customers across various industries.
• Design & Analysis: Utilize CAD and simulation tools to develop structural, thermal, and tolerance analyses for electromechanical assemblies, using hand calculations and FEA.
• Thermal Management: Design and analyze active and passive thermal management systems for custom electronic systems and packaging solutions.
• Prototyping & Testing: Participate in test campaigns to validate hardware performance under shock, vibration, thermal, and other environmental stresses.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

FEA

CAD

Thermal management

Structural analysis

Hand calculations

Education

Undergraduate student in Mechanical/Aerospace/Physics/Robotics

Tools

CAD software

FEA software

Job description

Company Overview

Second Order Effects started in 2016 as a services firm, taking on other companies’ hardest engineering problems from first principles. We grew into a solutions firm that designs and ships complete custom electronics and systems, including power electronics, RF, and control systems. We’ve completed over 250 projects for more than 100 clients. Our designs control rocket engines, manage satellite communications, instrument fusion reactors, and are enjoyed by consumers around the world. We approach problems from first principles, breaking challenges down to their most fundamental components. We focus on solving the right problems and building the teams to take them on, believing that training and empowering others yields a greater impact. In the past year, we’ve spun out into separate companies to meet emerging needs in frontier technology—including space, fusion and fission energy, and advanced vehicles. We currently have two stealth spinout companies in development. More information about our mission, vision, and values can be found here. Examples of the projects we have worked on can be found here.

Role Overview

As a Mechanical Engineering Intern, you will play a hands‑on role in designing, developing, and testing complex mechanical systems for customer‑facing projects. In this role, you will contribute to the full development lifecycle, from initial concept and simulation through prototyping, validation, and integration. Whether it’s designing mechanisms and enclosures, performing structural analysis, or designing precision assemblies for manufacturability, you’ll be making real contributions to complex systems. This internship is designed to accelerate your technical growth, giving you the chance to build a strong foundation in mechanical engineering while making an immediate impact.

What You Will Do

• Ownership: Contribute to the design of mechanical systems for customers across various industries
• Design & Analysis: Utilize CAD and simulation tools to develop structural, thermal, and tolerance analyses for electromechanical assemblies, using hand calculations and FEA
• Thermal Management: Design and analyze active and passive thermal management systems for custom electronic systems and packaging solutions
• Prototyping & Testing: Participate in test campaigns to validate hardware performance under shock, vibration, thermal, and other environmental stresses

What You Will Need

• Current enrollment in college (Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Robotics, or related field)
• Experience in designing, modeling, simulation, and testing of electromechanical components or assemblies
• Experience with hand calculations, finite element analysis (FEA), and computer‑aided design (CAD)
• Demonstrated passion and curiosity for mechanical engineering
• Strong problem‑solving skills and initiative to overcome technical challenges
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills; ability to explain design decisions and component selections

What Would Be Useful

• Experience in team‑based design and build projects (e.g., Formula SAE, Solar Car, CubeSat, Rover Challenge)
• Familiarity with circuits and electrical engineering fundamentals
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes such as machining, injection molding, water jetting, electro‑discharge machining, and 3D printing
• Familiarity with generating thermal models for electronic assemblies; experience with thermal analysis of electronic devices using FEA and CFD modeling
• Experience with high‑precision 3D printing processes and design for complex systems
• Ability to analyze and estimate structural loading from environmental sources
• Experience with fatigue and thermal testing of electromechanical assemblies
• Understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $70,400 annual salary, prorated for length of internship
• Flexible work hours and work‑from‑home policy
• 100% employer‑paid health insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision) for employees + 50% dependent coverage
• Accrued paid time off policy, accrued sick days policy, and paid company holidays
• 401(k) retirement account and employer matching (Safe Harbor 4%)
• Housing stipend bonus
• Electric Vehicle (EV) charging ports
• Catered lunches, snacks, and accessible kitchen

Second Order Effects is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SOE is governed on the basis of excellence and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.