Propulsion Engineer Intern

About the Role

• Intern position supporting engineering design, launch and test operations, and manufacturing.

Program Highlights

• Propulsion Integrated Design Team:

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

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

• Owns engine layout and packaging, transforming fluids schematics into 3D realities.

• Manages configuration, interfaces, mass properties, engine loads, and collaboration with partner teams.

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

• Turbomachinery Team:

• 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 Team:

• Designs and develops combustion devices for the Aeon Engine.

• Components operate under extreme temperatures and pressures.

• Role involves cradle-to-grave ownership of hardware from design through manufacturing to test.

• Provides technical ownership at the component level, coordinating across disciplines and direct accountability for hardware decisions.

• Engine Systems & Test Team:

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

• Serving as a Responsible Engineer for Aeon engine test articles.

• Developing test plans and executing them.

• Troubleshooting technical puzzles.

• Supporting engine system analysis and simulation, trade studies, and defining interfaces.

Key Responsibilities

• Support engineering design, launch and test operations, and manufacturing.
• Design, analyze, and develop engine integration hardware.
• Create CAD models and perform structural analysis.
• Evaluate turbopump performance through test data review.
• Resolve hardware issues during engine test campaigns.
• Coordinate across disciplines and take accountability for hardware decisions.
• Develop test plans and execute them.
• Troubleshoot technical puzzles.
• Support engine system analysis and simulation.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Packaging Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Safety
• Supply Chain
• Bioengineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Construction Management
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Thermodynamics
• Thermal analysis
• Structural analysis
• Fluid mechanics
• CFD models
• CAD models
• Finite element analysis
• Hotfire testing

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

Note: Applications from students studying outside the USA will not be considered.

Compensation: $34–42 per hour.