Mechanical Engineering Intern Spring 2027

rocketlab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Competitive medical plans

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and holidays

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Intern in Long Beach, CA, to support concept development, hardware testing, and integration readiness for next-generation spacecraft. You will work under mentors in a fast-paced environment, applying aerospace engineering concepts and evolving your skills on real hardware.

Ideal candidates are enrolled in an Aerospace/Mechanical program, maintaining a 3.0+ GPA, and possessing 3+ months of applied engineering experience.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree program in an Aerospace, Aeronautical, Astronautical, or Mechanical engineering discipline and have at least one semester of school remaining post internship
• GPA of 3.0 or above
• 3+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable)

Responsibilities

• As an intern, you will work closely with your mentor and other employees within the department to apply your knowledge and grow your skills both technically and professionally
• Work with a fast-paced group of professionals to apply engineering and industry concepts to solve real challenges
• Attend frequent 1:1's with mentors and supervisors to facilitate success and learning while providing progress updates
• Enjoy tech talks and network with other interns and employees through social and professional events

Skills

Applied engineering experience

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Astronautical or Mechanical Eng

GPA 3.0 or above

At least one semester remaining post internship

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

ANSYS

Simcenter 3D

FEMAP/NASTRAN

3D printing

GD&T

Lathe machining

Job description

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

As a Mechanical Engineering Intern based at Rocket Lab's site in Long Beach, California, you will have the opportunity to support the team as they develop new concepts and hardware, build and test our designs to ensure they will stand up to the extreme space environments, and ultimately deliver our fully tested hardware to the spacecraft integration team. You'll contribute to improving our capabilities by supporting the development of the next generation of high performing spacecraft.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO

• As an intern, you will work closely with your mentor and other employees within the department to apply your knowledge and grow your skills both technically and professionally
• Work with a fast-paced group of professionals to apply engineering and industry concepts to solve real challenges
• Attend frequent 1:1's with mentors and supervisors to facilitate success and learning while providing progress updates
• Enjoy tech talks and network with other interns and employees through social and professional events

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates will thrive in ambiguity and are excited to work in small, high-performing teams that are focused on continued learning and growth. Success in this position will be measured by the knowledge and experience you bring to the role, your ability to lead development projects without supervision, and your ability to successfully collaborate across teams to deliver results.

• Must be enrolled in a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree program in an Aerospace, Aeronautical, Astronautical, or Mechanical engineering discipline and have at least one semester of school remaining post internship
• GPA of 3.0 or above
• 3+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable)

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

• GPA of 3.5 or above
• 6+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable)
• Proficient in Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/ CAM) software (NX & Teamcenter) for designing and modeling mechanical components
• Finite Element Analysis experience (ANSYS, Simcenter 3D, FEMAP/NASTRAN)
• 3D printing experience
• Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing machining experience
• Lathe machining experience
• Familiarity with spacecraft design principles

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Able to work full-time, on-site for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks beginning January, February, or March 2027

COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS

Pay Range CA: $28.00 USD Hourly

You may be eligible for a stipend to subsidize relocation costs

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one component of our total rewards package at Rocket Lab. Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

• our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock)
• top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution)
• dental and vision coverage
• paid vacation and sick time
• 11 paid holidays
• flexible spending and dependent care accounts
• paid parental leave
• disability and life insurance
• and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

• subsidized EV charging
• onsite fitness centers (where available)
• discounted gym memberships
• complimentary snacks and beverages
• 50% employee discount on our popular merch store
• and a variety of other employee discounts

Eligibility for benefits may vary based on employment status, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role. Benefit programs are subject to change at the company's discretion.

Hourly Pay Range (CA Only)

$28 - $28 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT

We're on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that's not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other's backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including th