Propulsion Engineer Intern

About the Role

We are looking for a Propulsion Engineer Intern to support engineering design, launch and test operations, and manufacturing.

Program Highlights

• Propulsion Integrated Design: Responsible for the design, analysis, and development of engine integration hardware, including primary and secondary structure, bellows, flex hoses, gimbals, manifolds, ducting, heatshield components, and custom fittings. This includes engine layout and packaging, managing configuration, interfaces, mass properties, engine loads, and collaboration with partner teams through assembly and test.
• Turbomachinery: Designs and develops turbopumps. Activities include building 1D throughflow and CFD models, creating CAD models, performing structural analysis (hand calculations to Finite Element Analysis), and evaluating turbopump performance through test data review and issue resolution.
• Combustion Devices: Designs and develops combustion devices, which are thermally and structurally critical components operating under extreme temperatures and pressures. This role involves cradle-to-grave ownership from design through manufacturing to test, providing technical ownership at the component level and coordinating across disciplines.
• Engine Systems & Test: Work spans simulation & software tools, system-level architecture, requirements, and interfaces. In testing, you will serve as a Responsible Engineer for engine test articles, developing test plans, executing them, and troubleshooting technical puzzles. On the systems side, support may include engine system analysis, simulation, trade studies, and defining interfaces.

Key Responsibilities

• Support engineering design.
• Support launch and test operations.
• Support manufacturing.
• Develop test plans.
• Troubleshoot technical puzzles.
• Support engine system analysis and simulation.
• Support trade studies.
• Define interfaces with other groups.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Thermodynamics
• Thermal Analysis
• Structural Analysis
• Fluids
• CFD
• CAD
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
• Liquid-propellant rocket engines

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate or graduate student earning a degree in a science, engineering, technology, or mathematics field.
• Strong engineering fundamentals in either fluid mechanics & thermodynamics, or structural design & analysis.
• Clear evidence of ownership, problem-solving skills, and effective team collaboration.
• Excitement and ability to learn quickly.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience applying engineering fundamentals to solve real-world problems.
• Hands-on experience manufacturing, integrating, or testing hardware.
• Working knowledge of liquid-propellant rocket engines.
• Experience with design and analysis software.

Note: Students must be currently enrolled at a university in the USA.

Compensation: $34–42 per hour.