2026 Summer Internship - Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Vast•Long Beach, CA

1d•$35 - $40•Onsite

About The Position

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low-Earth orbit in 2026. It is part of our stepping stone approach to continuous human presence in LEO. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us. Vast offers an advanced engineering internship program with hands-on opportunities to design and build space hardware and software. You will play a crucial role in the development of the systems that will be required for the operation of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. We have four engineering internship postings (Mechanical / Aerospace, Manufacturing, Electrical, and Software). Please only apply to the most relevant posting for your background. Our interns are mentored by industry experts to solve challenging real-world engineering problems across our hiring teams. This is a 12 week internship at our offices in Long Beach, CA or Hawthorne, CA or Mojave, CA. Responsibilities will vary depending on each intern’s area of expertise. We are currently looking for candidates with experience in the the following engineering disciplines: Avionics Structures Structures Testing ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support Systems) Thermal Flight Safety & Mission Assurance Materials & Processes Mission Operations Hardware Development Propulsion Propulsion Testing

Requirements

Qualified candidates must be enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master’s degree program from an accredited college or university in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other related engineering discipline.
Ability to work full-time onsite in Long Beach, CA or Hawthorne, CA
E-2 Minimum Qualifications:

Nice To Haves

Application of technical skills outside of the classroom (examples include: extracurricular projects, volunteering, personal projects, laboratory research, or prior internship/work experience)
Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA) for 3D modeling and simulation
Attention to detail
Strong engineering problem solving capabilities
Basic knowledge of engineering and equipment
Prior knowledge of analysis tools
Ability to collaborate across different teams
Self-directed with a positive attitude and team spirit

Responsibilities

Responsibilities will vary depending on each intern’s area of expertise.
You will play a crucial role in the development of the systems that will be required for the operation of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
Hands-on opportunities to design and build space hardware and software.

Benefits

100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 10 days of vacation for non-exempt staff
paid parental leave
short and long-term disability insurance
life insurance
access to a 401(k) retirement plan
One Medical membership
ClassPass credits
personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health
other discounts and perks
snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.