Mechanical Engineering Internship - Winter/Spring 2027 (Dropship, Early Interest)
About The Position
Pyka's goal is to provide society with a new form of safe, clean, and cost-effective transportation enabled by autonomous electric aviation. To achieve this, Pyka is applying its technologies to various industries where autonomous electric aircraft can be useful, starting with high-value and dangerous jobs. The company designs, develops, and manufactures an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density motors, motor controllers, batteries, and custom carbon-fiber composite airframes. Pyka's autonomous electric aircraft are currently used for cargo transport and crop protection by customers on four continents, and the company has secured industry-first regulatory approvals from the FAA. Their cargo aircraft enhance connectivity and delivery networks, while their crop protection aircraft offer a safer, more precise, and environmentally friendly tool for aerial application. Both vehicles are economical to operate, easy to deploy, and reduce CO2 emissions. The Dropship Mechanical Team is seeking curious, driven, and hands-on mechanical engineering students to learn from experienced engineers, builders, and innovators. As a Mechanical Engineering Intern, you will be integrated into the Mechanical Engineering team, contributing to real aircraft hardware, supporting the entire design cycle, and gaining firsthand experience in taking complex electromechanical systems from concept to field deployment. You will gain real-world experience working on active projects, collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, and testing teams, and understanding how hardware, software, and operations integrate to create autonomous electric aircraft. Pyka's Mechanical Engineering team handles a significant volume of hardware work, offering interns exposure to a wide variety of parts, subsystems, tools, and tests. This is a fast-paced, collaborative environment with opportunities for ownership and impact. This is an Early Interest Application, with formal interviews and role-specific outreach beginning in October 2026 for the 2027 cohorts.
Requirements
- Students currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
- A genuine interest in electric aviation, robotics, mechanical design, or sustainability
- Strong problem-solving skills, curiosity, and willingness to dive into complex technical challenges
- Comfort getting hands-on in the shop — building, testing, iterating
- Familiarity with 3D CAD (SolidWorks, NX, Inventor, or similar)
- Preferred graduation window: Winter 2026 – Spring 2028.
Nice To Haves
- Exposure to FEA, composite materials, 3D printing, CNC machining, or rapid prototyping
Responsibilities
- Support the design, prototyping, testing, and iteration of mechanical components and assemblies
- Assist in validating environmental and performance requirements for aircraft parts and materials
- Help investigate, root-cause, and develop solutions for hardware issues discovered during flight testing or field operations
- Create or update 3D CAD models, drawings, and documentation under the guidance of Mechanical Engineers
- Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineers on improving build processes, tooling, and manufacturability
- Conduct hands-on testing, research, or analysis to support project milestones
- Present findings or project outcomes at the end of your internship
Benefits
- $35-$40/hr pay
- Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance
- Paid holidays, generous PTO, and additional unpaid time off
- Voluntary short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
- Pre-tax commuter benefits
- Free catered lunch and plenty of snacks
- Visa sponsorship
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
