Propulsion Engineer Internship

About the Role

Internship supporting engineering design, launch and test operations, and manufacturing.

Program Highlights

• Propulsion Integrated Design

• Responsible for design, analysis, and development of engine integration hardware.

• Includes primary and secondary structure, bellows, flex hoses, gimbals, manifolds, ducting, heatshield components, custom fittings.

• Owns engine layout and packaging, managing configuration, interfaces, mass properties, engine loads, and collaboration with partner teams.

• Gain experience in mechanical design, thermal/structural analysis, prototyping, benchtop testing, and iterative design/analysis/test cycles.

• Turbomachinery

• Designs and develops turbopumps for the Aeon Engine.

• Activities include building 1D throughflow and CFD models for fluid passages and rotating blading.

• Creating CAD models and performing structural analysis (from hand calculations to finite element analysis).

• Evaluating turbopump performance through test data review and resolving hardware issues during engine test campaigns.

• Combustion Devices

• Designs and develops combustion devices for the Aeon Engine.

• Components operate under extreme temperatures and pressures.

• Cradle-to-grave ownership of hardware from design through manufacturing to test.

• Gain experience coordinating across disciplines and direct accountability for hardware decisions.

• Engine Systems & Test

• Work spans simulation & software tools; system-level architecture, requirements, and interfaces; component & integrated system hotfire testing.

• Serve as a Responsible Engineer for Aeon engine test articles, developing test plans, executing them, and troubleshooting technical puzzles.

• Support engine system analysis and simulation, trade studies, and defining interfaces with other groups.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Engineering Fundamentals: Thermodynamics, thermal, structural, and/or fluids.
• Hands-on Experience: Manufacturing, integrating, or testing hardware.
• Working Knowledge: Liquid-propellant rocket engines.
• Software: Design and analysis software.

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 from school or work experience.
• Excitement & ability to learn quickly.
• Must be currently enrolled at a university in the USA.

Compensation

$34–42 per hour.