Mechanical Engineering Intern / Co-op, Rocket Motors

GITAI • Los Angeles, CA

7d • $25 - $40 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Mechanical Engineering Intern / Co-op at GITAI, you will help develop hardware for the Space-Based Interceptor program. Depending on program needs, your work may involve satellite bus components, rocket motor hardware, mechanical interfaces, prototypes, ground support equipment, or test fixtures.

You will take a defined piece of hardware from an early concept into the real world. Work may include creating CAD models and drawings, resolving manufacturing issues with technicians or suppliers, supporting assembly and inspection, preparing and running tests, and updating designs based on results. The work moves quickly and may take you between your desk, the shop floor, suppliers, and test sites.

This role involves real hardware and evolving priorities rather than a prescribed training plan or neatly packaged assignment. You will be expected to take ownership, ask for help before becoming stuck, find needed people and information, accept direct feedback, and keep moving through ambiguity. The position is part-time, temporary, non-exempt, and fully onsite in Torrance, California, with travel to test sites—including Mojave and locations throughout the greater Los Angeles area—based on program needs. Typical hours are Monday to Friday, approximately 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with flexibility expected according to mission schedules and program needs.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available. U.S. citizenship is listed as a requirement because of potential access to export-controlled and government-controlled information. The posting also describes export authorization eligibility under applicable U.S. regulations.

Requirements

• A bachelor's or master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field, completed or expected to be completed during 2027.
• 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 development stages, such as design, fabrication, assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and redesign.
• Experience using a professional 3D CAD system and reading mechanical drawings.
• Willingness to work hard, learn quickly, take direct feedback, move across functional boundaries, and do hands-on work to move hardware forward.
• Judgment to raise problems early, ask clear questions, and work 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.
• Current authorization to work in the United States; the role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• SolidWorks experience.
• 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 with engineers, technicians, machinists, suppliers, and test personnel to turn incomplete requirements and early concepts into buildable, testable hardware.
• Support hands-on fabrication, assembly, inspection, integration, and testing, including hardware setup, instrumentation, data collection, teardown, and post-test inspection.
• Investigate manufacturing problems, integration issues, and test failures, then apply the findings to subsequent hardware iterations.
• Document hardware configurations, design decisions, build issues, test results, and lessons learned.
• Support field tests outside the Torrance office when required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern