Summer 2026 Mechanical Engineer Intern - Durham, NC

Sierra Space•Durham, NC

26d•$30 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

Launch Your Future at Sierra Space Begin your career journey alongside the industry's most brilliant and innovative minds. At Sierra Space, interns engage with meaningful projects while developing the foundation for an exceptional career in aerospace and defense. Our early career professionals benefit from a distinctive experience—receiving dedicated mentorship while collaborating directly with recognized industry experts on real-world challenges aligned with their academic focus. Bring your knowledge and passion for learning, and we'll provide transformative experience. Summer Intern Academy The Sierra Space Summer Intern Academy runs for 12 weeks during the summer of 2026 for undergrad students graduating between December 2026 and June 2027. Participants work on meaningful projects, network with industry experts, and develop skills at one of our state-of-the-art facilities. Positions Available Mechanical Engineer: Help design and test mechanical components used in spacecraft and aerospace systems. You’ll work with engineers to develop CAD models, analyze mechanical performance, and support testing hardware using tools such as MATLAB. Interns may contribute to product development activities including prototyping, thermal analysis, stress calculations, and material selection while documenting engineering results. You will leave your internship with hands-on experience with mechanical design, manufacturing processes, and how hardware moves from concept to flight-ready systems! About You Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower – to join us in this critical mission. We’re looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals – while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement. Professional Development During your internship, you will: Master essential business processes and procedures Strengthen your technical expertise through hands-on application and expert guidance Participate in our comprehensive program developed by our University Talent Acquisition team Engage in cross-functional workshops and leadership sessions that provide valuable insights into our operations and Sierra Space's forward-thinking culture Join us in our mission to build the next generation of space innovation and become part of the team that's expanding humanity's reach beyond Earth.

Requirements

Actively enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.
Expected graduation date between December 2026-June 2027.
Passion for solving problems by leveraging data and technology.
Excellent written and verbal communication
Ability to work in a highly collaborative team environment.
Strong organization skills, detail oriented, and self-initiative.
The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance is required.
To conform to U.S. Government international trade regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Nice To Haves

Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering

Responsibilities

Help design and test mechanical components used in spacecraft and aerospace systems.
Work with engineers to develop CAD models, analyze mechanical performance, and support testing hardware using tools such as MATLAB.
Contribute to product development activities including prototyping, thermal analysis, stress calculations, and material selection while documenting engineering results.