Mechanical Engineering Intern Fall 2026

Rocket Lab Corporation • Long Beach, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As a Mechanical Engineering Intern based at Rocket Lab’s site in Long Beach, California, you will have the opportunity to support the design, development, and integration of spacecraft hardware and flight harnessing across our Space Systems programs. You’ll contribute to concept creation, hardware build and test campaigns, and the delivery of fully qualified components for integration. This internship provides hands-on experience collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams and owning work from early design through spacecraft integration.

Requirements

• Must be enrolled in a bachelor’s, master's or doctorate degree program in an engineering, physics or math discipline and have at least one semester of school remaining post internship.
• GPA of 3.0 or above.
• 3+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable).
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable (for US offices only).
• Eligibility to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations (for New Zealand offices only).

Nice To Haves

• GPA of 3.5 or above.
• 6+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable).
• Proficient in Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/ CAM) software (NX & Teamcenter) for designing and modeling mechanical components.
• Finite Element Analysis experience (ANSYS, Simcenter 3D, FEMAP/NASTRAN).
• 3D printing experience.
• Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing machining experience.
• Lathe machining experience.
• Familiarity with spacecraft design principles.
• Familiarity with harnesses with space flight hardware.

Responsibilities

• Support the design, development, and integration of spacecraft hardware and flight harnessing across Space Systems programs.
• Contribute to concept creation, hardware build and test campaigns, and the delivery of fully qualified components for integration.
• Gain hands-on experience collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Own work from early design through spacecraft integration.
• Apply engineering and industry concepts to solve real challenges.
• Attend tech talks and network with other interns and employees through social and professional events.

Benefits

• Stipend to subsidize relocation costs.
• Company equity.
• Top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option.
• Dental and vision coverage.
• 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year.
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• Flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts.
• Paid parental leave.
• Disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Discounted employee stock purchase program.
• Subsidized EV charging stations.
• Onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.

What This Job Offers

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