Spacecraft Thermal & Manufacturing Intern

Loft Orbital; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 34,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing/relocation support for interns

Daily catered lunches and snacks

Job summary

Loft Orbital invites you to join our Thermal & Manufacturing Engineering Internship in Golden, Colorado for Summer 2027. You’ll work with Mission Engineering, Analysis, and AIT teams, moving from CAD drawings to physical parts used on satellites.

This hands-on role blends materials, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing in a fast-paced environment. You'll help develop workflows for thermal interface materials, contribute to trials and documentation, and gain exposure to spaceflight hardware.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in a technical field; juniors/seniors.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks CAD and ability to create clear engineering drawings.
• Hands-on fabrication or test experience through projects, research, internships, or shop/lab work.
• Ability to plan experiments and analyze results using Python, Excel, or similar tools.
• Strong written communication skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct trials to compare materials and cutting methods, including laser cutting, digital knife cutting, and die-cutting.
• Evaluate cut quality, dimensional accuracy, material handling, and contamination risks.
• Develop a repeatable workflow from CAD drawings to cut parts and assembly-ready kits.
• Help establish drawing and DXF file conventions, document cutting settings, and define inspection steps.
• Develop approaches for labeling, protective liners, packaging, and handling to simplify assembly.
• Create work instructions and inspection checklists in collaboration with engineering and AIT teams.
• Present findings and recommend materials and processes that balance thermal requirements with practical manufacturing needs.

Skills

SolidWorks

Python

Excel

Hands-on fabrication

Technical drawing

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

3D printing

Job description

Loft Orbital invites you to join our Thermal & Manufacturing Engineering Internship in Golden, Colorado for Summer 2027. You’ll work with Mission Engineering, Analysis, and AIT teams, moving from CAD drawings to physical parts used on satellites.

This hands-on role blends materials, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing in a fast-paced environment. You'll help develop workflows for thermal interface materials, contribute to trials and documentation, and gain exposure to spaceflight hardware.