Asteroid Mining Intern

AstroForge • Seal Beach, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

At AstroForge, our mission is to make space resources accessible on Earth. We mine asteroids to extract valuable minerals in space at a lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than current terrestrial mining methods. By joining the team at AF you’ll have the opportunity to work side by side with our amazing engineering and science teams. This position will provide you with valuable skills, experience, and mentorship necessary to become a leading professional in your field. We offer a unique opportunity to join an exciting team looking to expand humanity’s capabilities in space.

Requirements

• Must be a rising senior in undergrad or enrolled in graduate studies (at the time of the internship).
• Enrolled in an accredited college or university, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Must be 18 years or older.
• Must be eligible to work in an ITAR-compliant environment.
• Must not be otherwise employed for the duration of the internship.
• Currently pursuing a degree in Engineering (e.g., Aero, Electrical, Mechanical), one of the physical Sciences (e.g., Physics, Planetary Science, Astronomy, Geology), or a related discipline.
• Strong hands-on experience with complex systems, such as laboratory experiments, vacuum chambers, robotics, or similar technical projects.
• Strong analytical and documentation skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with high-temperature processes, vacuum systems, spacecraft hardware, optical payloads, or lasers.
• Familiarity with CAD tools or simulation software.
• Basic programming proficiency (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
• Demonstrated interest in space resource utilization or in-situ resource processing.

Responsibilities

• Work on the design, assembly, and testing of flight payloads for asteroid characterization and mining.
• Conduct laboratory R&D of laser-based asteroid mining and refining processes.
• Support system design for refining and material processing hardware.
• Support the design and testing of payload prototypes and flight units.
• Conduct literature reviews and comparative studies across multiple disciplines (e.g., materials science, flight hardware design).

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed