Mechanical Engineer - Summer Internship 2027 Verified today

About Inversion Space

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology. The company's highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft, Arc, is designed for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and national security missions requiring precise, controlled flight through the atmosphere.

Headquartered in Playa Vista, Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof, enabling rapid development from concept to flight.

The Role

As a Mechanical Engineer Intern, you will contribute to the development of mission-critical hardware for Arc. You'll work alongside experienced mechanical engineers to take flight hardware, prototype systems, tooling, and integration equipment from early concepts to real, testable hardware. This is a hands-on role where you will see your work built and tested.

You will report to the Director of Mechanical and may contribute across the engineering lifecycle from CAD design and drawings to analysis, procurement, assembly, testing, and vehicle integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of mechanical systems including brackets, enclosures, mechanisms, tooling, and test equipment
• Create and revise 3D CAD models, assemblies, engineering drawings, and bills of materials
• Perform engineering analysis using first-principles calculations, hand analysis, and FEA to assess structural and thermal performance
• Support the planning, setup, execution, and documentation of hardware test campaigns, including functional, vibration, shock, thermal, and environmental testing
• Work directly with manufacturing, technicians, and integration teams to build, inspect, troubleshoot, and iterate hardware
• Help create and maintain engineering documentation, including assembly procedures, test plans and reports, interface documents, and design specifications
• Take ownership of well-scoped engineering projects while communicating progress, risks, and technical findings clearly

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline
• Demonstrated interest and aptitude in hands-on engineering through coursework, project teams, research, internships, personal projects, machining, robotics, rocketry, automotive, or similar experience
• Experience using 3D CAD software such as NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar
• Fundamental understanding of mechanical engineering principles, including statics, mechanics of materials, machine design, heat transfer, and material properties
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, learn quickly, and work through ambiguous technical problems
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality engineering work
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively on a fast-moving, collaborative team

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience designing, building, and testing complex physical systems including rocketry, CubeSats, robotics, Formula SAE, Baja, UAVs, marine vehicles, lab research, or personal projects
• Familiarity with GD&T, engineering drawings, tolerancing, and design for manufacturing and assembly
• Exposure to structural or thermal analysis tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or similar
• Experience with machining, sheet metal, composites, additive manufacturing, or other fabrication processes
• Familiarity with test instrumentation, data acquisition, or laboratory testing practices
• Passion for aerospace hardware and a desire to contribute to ambitious, real-world engineering programs

Work Location and Compensation

This position requires in-office presence in Playa Vista, CA for the duration of the internship. California annual base hourly rate: $38-$41. Pay is determined on a case-by-case basis based on interviews, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, and other factors.

ITAR Compliance

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you 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.