Impulse Space

Tooling/Ground Support Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

Posted 6 Hours Ago

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Redondo Beach, CA, USA

In-Office

30-30 Hourly

Internship

Aerospace • Software

The Role

Supports the design, development, fabrication, testing, and implementation of tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and test systems for spacecraft hardware. Creates CAD models and drawings, collaborates with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams, performs hands-on assembly and troubleshooting, and assists with hardware inspection and metrology. The 12-week internship is on-site in Redondo Beach, California, and may involve overtime.

Summary Generated by Built In

As a Tooling/Ground Support Engineering Intern, you will support the design, development, and implementation of tooling, fixturing, and ground support equipment for high-performance spacecraft. You will work closely with a fast-paced, agile team developing spacecraft and test systems from clean sheet designs.
*This internship is 12 weeks long from May/June to August/September 2027*

Responsibilities

Support the design, development, and implementation of tooling, fixturing, and ground support equipment for metallic and composite spacecraft structures
Support the design and development of test equipment and fixtures used to test and validate flight hardware
Work directly with designers, analysts, and engineers to support the development and prototyping of spacecraft hardware and test stands
Create and update CAD models, drawings, and assemblies for tooling and support equipment
Work with manufacturing and supply chain teams to bring tooling and fixtures from design through fabrication and implementation
Support hands-on assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and modification of tooling and test equipment
Support inspection and measurement of hardware and tooling using appropriate metrology and measurement techniques
Resolve technical challenges with innovative and resourceful solutions, with an emphasis on speed of execution

Minimum Qualifications

Completion or working towards a degree in engineering or science
Ability to take project ownership and work well in a small team
Demonstrated proficiency in basic principles of mechanics, materials, and manufacturing

Preferred Skills and Experience

Hands-on experience working with machining, fabrication, welding, or composite manufacturing
Experience designing or building tooling, fixtures, test equipment, or mechanical hardware
Familiarity with CAD software and ability to learn new tools
Familiarity with GD&T, dimensioning, and tolerancing
Familiarity with analysis programming such as MATLAB, Excel, etc.
Experience with test instrumentation such as accelerometers, strain gauges, or load cells

Additional Requirements:

Willing and able to work on-site in Redondo Beach, CA for the duration of the internship
This position may require overtime hours; interns are eligible for overtime pay.

Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

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. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

About
Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.

Skills Required

Completion of or active enrollment in an engineering or science degree program
Ability to take project ownership and work effectively on a small team
Demonstrated knowledge of basic mechanics, materials, and manufacturing principles
Willingness and ability to work on-site in Redondo Beach, California, for the internship duration
U.S. citizenship, U.S. lawful permanent residency, protected individual status, or eligibility to obtain required ITAR authorizations
Hands-on experience with machining, fabrication, welding, or composite manufacturing
Experience designing or building tooling, fixtures, test equipment, or mechanical hardware
Familiarity with CAD software and ability to learn new tools
Familiarity with GD&T, dimensioning, and tolerancing
Familiarity with MATLAB, Excel, or similar analysis programming tools
Experience with test instrumentation such as accelerometers, strain gauges, or load cells