Mechanical Engineering Internship/Co-op (Summer 2027)

About General Astronautics

Superintelligent space Robots

Tech

Our autonomous robotic arms are designed for small form factor deployment and operate without human intervention in microgravity. The core technical challenge is applying the cutting edge of robot learning and reasoning to a data-denied environment where microgravity manipulation datasets are scarce, physics behave differently, and teleoperation latency rules out human fallback. Our stack spans low-level real-time arm control, multi-camera perception and localization, and learned manipulation policies trained on both open-source datasets and proprietary microgravity-specific data. We combine decades of accumulated space biology and materials research with modern robotics and machine learning to build a system that generalizes across novel lab tasks in orbit. The result is a platform that makes the known commercial value of orbital drug, semiconductor, and fiber optic production finally accessible at scale.

The role

## About the RoleGeneral Astronautics is building autonomous dexterous robotic arms for orbital inspection, repair, and assembly. Our systems enable spacecraft to autonomously manipulate, replace, and upgrade hardware in microgravity, without astronaut intervention.We're looking for Mechanical Engineering Interns for Summer 2027 to help design, build, and test our robotic hardware. This role spans mechanism design, CAD, analysis, prototyping, testing, and integration of robotic joints, end effectors, structures, and electromechanical assemblies.This is a high-ownership, high-accountability role. You will work directly with your mentor and the founding team, taking responsibility for hardware from initial requirements through a working, tested assembly. You will move quickly between design, manufacturing, assembly, and experiments. Your work will support our upcoming demonstration mission and flight-ready robotic systems.## Responsibilities- Own a mechanism or subassembly from requirements and trade studies through detailed design, prototyping, and testing- Develop CAD models and engineering drawings, including material selection, tolerances, and assembly processes- Perform hand calculations and FEA to evaluate structural margins and validate designs across expected load conditions- Build prototypes, test fixtures, and instrumentation to evaluate hardware performance- Write and execute test plans, analyze results, and use the findings to improve your designs- Support qualification and acceptance testing for parabolic flight and on-orbit demonstration hardware- Produce drawings, analysis reports, bills of materials, and assembly documentation that others can build from- Evaluate manufacturability, cost, and design risk, and work with the team to integrate your hardware with the robot, payload, and vehicle## Basic Qualifications- Enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in engineering, physics, computer science, or math by the start of employment- GPA of 3.5 or above- 6+ months of hands-on technical work outside the classroom through research, project teams, personal builds, or prior internships- Strong fundamentals in prototyping, order-of-magnitude estimation, and hand calculations- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work alongside engineers, technicians, and the founding team- Ability to take ownership of technical problems and adapt as priorities change## Preferred Skills and Experience- Experience designing mechanisms, robotic hardware, or electromechanical assemblies- Experience creating CAD models and engineering drawings in Siemens NX, SolidWorks, or equivalent software- Experience with MATLAB, Ansys, or equivalent analysis and simulation tools- Experience designing tooling, building test fixtures, and testing structures or mechanisms- Experience integrating motors, sensors, or other electrical components into mechanical hardware## Additional Requirements- Available to work on-site in El Segundo for a minimum of 12 weeks during Summer 2027- Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to support critical project milestones## Compensation- Engineering Intern, Sophomore: $30.00/hour- Engineering Intern, Junior or Senior: $35.00/hour## ITAR / Citizenship Requirements- Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or eligible for authorization under U.S. export regulations.