Mechanical Engineering Internship/Co-op

Forge Atomics Inc.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick leave

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

Forge Atomics is seeking Mechanical Engineering interns to own hardware end-to-end on Ember, a 25 MWe nuclear reactor. You’ll be embedded in a mechanical team—components, fluids, or reactor structures—designing, analyzing, building, and testing hardware with real impact on deployment logistics.

Basic qualifications include enrollment in an engineering/physics/math degree and 3+ months of applied engineering experience; U.S.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in an engineering, physics or math discipline by the start of employment.
• 3+ months of applied engineering experience (internships and project team experience strongly preferred).
• Must be able to comply with U.S. DOE export control regulations; U.S. citizenship not required for generally authorized countries.

Responsibilities

• Own a well-scoped piece of reactor-critical mechanical hardware end-to-end with mentorship.
• Support validation of hardware with testing: thermal cycling, pressure cycling, shock and vibration; develop fixturing and reports.
• Apply hand calculations to perform trade studies and provide clear recommendations.
• Collaborate with technicians, engineers, and managers to balance cost, efficiency, and deployment logistics.

Skills

Teamwork and collaboration

Hands-on hardware experience

Engineering fundamentals

Written technical reports

Education

Enrolled in bachelor’s degree program (engineering/physics/math)

Job description

Forge Atomics

Humanity faces two critical challenges: securing reliable energy and aggressively lowering our environmental impact. At Forge, we believe nuclear fission is the key to solving both at once. Today Forge is developing the technology to rapidly scale the deployment of nuclear fission.

Mechanical Engineering Internship/Co-op

As a mechanical engineering intern at Forge, you’ll own real hardware on Ember, our 25 MWe nuclear reactor — not a side project. Interns are embedded directly in one of our mechanical teams — components (valves, control-rod drive mechanisms, heat exchangers), fluids (primary and secondary loops, steam generation, heat rejection), or reactor structures (pressure vessel and internals) — and matched to a team based on your interests and experience. You’ll design, analyze, build, and test hardware alongside the engineers responsible for it, and see your work carried into a machine meant to power an abundant, clean future. Internship and co-op positions are available for the Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 terms; you’ll indicate which term(s) you’re available for when you apply.

Responsibilities

• Own a well-scoped piece of reactor-critical mechanical hardware end-to-end — design, analysis, prototyping, and test — with the mentorship of the engineer responsible for that system

• Support validation of hardware with rigorous testing: thermal cycling, pressure cycling, shock, and vibration; develop fixturing and write up results in technical reports

• Apply first-order hand calculations and engineering fundamentals to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations, even with partial information

• Collaborate daily with technicians, engineers from other systems, and managers to develop designs that balance cost, efficiency, and deployment logistics

Basic Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in an engineering, physics or math discipline by the start of employment

• 3+ months of applied engineering experience (internships and project team experience (i.e. FSAE, Rocketry, Cube Sat, Solar Car) are strongly preferred)

• Must be able to comply with U.S. Department of Energy export control regulations governing access to nuclear technology (10 CFR Part 810). U.S. citizenship is not required: Forge can generally host citizens of generally authorized countries (including Canada, the U.K., E.U. member states, Japan, and South Korea), and supports J-1 exchange visitor sponsorship for international students

Preferred Skills and Experience

• GPA of 3.5 or above

• 12+ months experience of application of technical skills outside of the classroom. Prior internships and project team experience are strongly preferred. Exceptional personal projects or laboratory research can serve as substitutes.

• Ability to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, other engineers, and managers

• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic professional setting with changing needs and requirements

• Experience using test instrumentation and control components (e.g. pressure transducers, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, relays, solenoid valves, etc.)

Additional Requirements

• Position will be based in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County and will require relocation if not already local. The position will be full-time in the office for the duration of the internship/co-op term.

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range:

• Engineering Intern/Freshman/Sophomore: $28.00/hour

• Engineering Intern/Junior/Senior: $30.00/hour

Your actual level and hourly rate 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.

Interns accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law, and receive access to various other perks.

Forge is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Forge is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications 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.

This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.