Mechanical Engineering Intern / Co-op, Rocket Motors - Fall 2026

GITAI•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$25 - $40•Onsite

About The Position

GITAI is a space robotics company focused on reducing the cost of work in space. They develop robotic systems for orbital, lunar, and defense applications, including assembly, inspection, maintenance, construction, and surface operations. GITAI emphasizes keeping hardware, software, testing, and integration close together to accelerate learning and development. The company is in an early stage, with systems, the company, and the market all being built concurrently, offering challenging work where many solutions are yet to be defined. This role is for an intern or co-op to join the team developing hardware for the Space-Based Interceptor program, potentially working on satellite bus components, rocket motor hardware, mechanical interfaces, prototypes, ground support equipment, or test fixtures. The intern will take a piece of hardware from concept to reality, involving CAD design, manufacturing liaison, assembly support, testing, and design updates based on results. The work environment is fast-paced, requiring flexibility to move between desk work, the shop floor, suppliers, and test sites. Interns will be given real responsibilities and are expected to take ownership, seek help proactively, find necessary information, accept feedback, and persevere through ambiguity.

Requirements

Current enrollment in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field.
At least one year of sustained participation in a technically rigorous student engineering project, such as Formula SAE, rocketry, CubeSat, robotics, Baja SAE, or Design-Build-Fly, with meaningful hands-on involvement.
Experience taking hardware through several stages of development, such as design, fabrication, assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and redesign.
Experience using a professional 3D CAD system and reading mechanical drawings.
A willingness to work hard, learn quickly, take direct feedback, move across functional boundaries, and do the hands-on work required to move hardware forward.
The judgment to raise problems early, ask clear questions, and keep working through ambiguity, setbacks, and changing priorities.
Ability to work fully onsite at GITAI’s office in Torrance, California.
U.S. citizenship due to potential access to export-controlled and government-controlled information.

Nice To Haves

SolidWorks experience is preferred but not required.
Experience with satellite hardware, rocket propulsion, solid rocket motors, robotics, mechanisms, pressure systems, or aerospace test equipment.
Experience owning a component or subsystem through multiple design, build, test, and redesign cycles.
Familiarity with GD&T, tolerance analysis, machining, sheet metal, composites, welding, additive manufacturing, or bonded assemblies.
Experience with mechanical testing, instrumentation, data acquisition, structural analysis, or thermal analysis.
Experience working directly with machinists, technicians, suppliers, or manufacturing vendors.

Responsibilities

Own clearly scoped mechanical hardware through design, manufacturing, assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and iteration.
Design and update mechanical components, assemblies, interfaces, prototypes, ground support equipment, and test fixtures using 3D CAD and engineering drawings.
Work directly with engineers, technicians, machinists, suppliers, and test personnel to turn incomplete requirements and early concepts into hardware that can be built and tested.
Support hands-on fabrication, assembly, inspection, integration, and test activities, including hardware setup, instrumentation, data collection, teardown, and post-test inspection.
Investigate manufacturing problems, integration issues, and test failures, then quickly apply what you learn to the next hardware iteration.
Document hardware configurations, design decisions, build issues, test results, and lessons learned, and support field tests outside the Torrance office when required.