Skunkworks Engineer Internship - Summer 2026

LiquidPiston • Bloomfield, CT

3d • Onsite

About The Position

LiquidPiston is an innovative propulsion technology company reinventing the internal combustion engine through its patented X-Engine architecture and High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC). Our compact, powerful, multi-fuel rotary engines deliver 10× higher power density and up to 30% better efficiency than conventional piston engines — while being significantly quieter and lower-vibration. We serve demanding markets including defense (UAVs, portable power), aerospace (hybrid-electric propulsion, eVTOL/UAS), and emerging commercial applications. After 15+ years of core R&D, the company is now scaling toward production and commercialization — creating high-impact opportunities for bold, fast-moving engineers.

Our small, high-autonomy Skunkworks group operates with Lockheed-style freedom: rapid prototyping, high-risk/high-reward experiments, quick iteration, and minimal bureaucracy. The team tackles moon-shot variants of the X-Engine platform — next-generation fuels (hydrogen, low-cetane, multi-fuel extremes), ultra-high power density demonstrators, novel hybrid integration concepts, and classified DoD / DARPA-inspired fast-track projects. Expect messy benches, late-night dyno runs, 3D-printed parts by breakfast, and direct influence on future engine roadmaps.

As a Skunkworks Engineer Intern, you will work shoulder-to-shoulder with senior engineers and company founders on bleeding-edge rotary engine concepts that conventional automotive/aerospace companies would never touch. This is not a documentation-heavy or narrowly scoped internship, it's hands-on, cross-disciplinary, and fast-paced. Ideal for students who thrive in ambiguous, high-ownership environments and want real ownership of prototype hardware.

Requirements

• Pursuing B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field (rising junior or above preferred)
• Demonstrated hands-on prototyping experience ( Formula SAE, personal projects, research labs, rocketry, robotics, etc.)
• Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar)
• Comfortable in a machine shop / hands-on lab environment (mill, lathe, 3D printing, basic welding helpful but not required)
• U.S. person status (citizen or permanent resident) — many Skunkworks activities involve defense-related hardware
• High tolerance for ambiguity + bias toward action

Nice To Haves

• Prior work with internal combustion engines, rotaries, or high-performance power systems
• Exposure to additive manufacturing (especially metal DMLS / binder jetting)
• Combustion, thermodynamics, or high-speed data acquisition experience
• Experience with rapid controls prototyping (dSPACE, Speedgoat, Arduino/RPi for quick closed-loop demos)
• Aerospace/defense project background (UAVs, hybrid propulsion, DARPA-style challenges)
• Personal projects involving extreme environments, fuels, or unconventional engines

Responsibilities

• Design, assemble, and test rapid prototypes of novel X-Engine sub-systems, combustors, seals, or hybrid integration components
• Perform hands-on fabrication using in-house machine shop, additive manufacturing (metal + polymer), and advanced assembly techniques
• Run experiments on single-cylinder research engines, modified multi-cylinder demonstrators, or subscale Skunkworks test articles
• Collect and analyze high-speed data (pressure traces, high-speed video, emissions, vibration) to validate bold design choices
• Iterate designs weekly — CAD → print/machine → test → learn → repeat
• Support classified / customer-funded fast-track projects (U.S. citizenship or permanent residency often required for certain tasks)
• Collaborate across mechanical, thermal, combustion, controls, and materials boundaries
• Document key findings in concise memos / one-pagers to influence long-term architecture decisions

Benefits

• Direct mentorship from company founders and principal engineers
• Ownership of real prototype hardware that could shape the next X-Engine family
• Exposure to classified / cutting-edge DoD and aerospace customers
• Broad skill ramp across design, fabrication, testing, data analysis, and systems thinking
• Very strong potential pathway to full-time role post-graduation for top performers
• The chance to say: “I built that crazy engine variant in the Skunkworks bay

What This Job Offers

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