Fall 2025 Vehicle Engineering Intern
Astrolab
hawthorne, ca, usa
USD 30-30 / hour
Posted on Aug 7, 2025
Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team.
At Astrolab, the Vehicle Engineering Team is responsible for the mechanical and electromechanical design of all components and subsystems of our rovers. Engineers within this team include those responsible for structures, mechanisms, thermal modeling, and dynamic analysis.
About the Roles:
As a Vehicle Engineering Mechanical Intern at Astrolab, you will be responsible for the design, development, test, flight, and operation of novel structures and actuators critical to the Astrolab lunar rover.
As a Vehicle Engineering Thermal Intern at Astrolab, you will work collaboratively across engineering disciplines to optimize thermal management solutions, ensuring the longevity and functionality of our rovers during extended missions in harsh conditions.
At Astrolab, the Vehicle Engineering Team is responsible for the mechanical and electromechanical design of all components and subsystems of our rovers. Engineers within this team include those responsible for structures, mechanisms, thermal modeling, and dynamic analysis.
About the Roles:
As a Vehicle Engineering Mechanical Intern at Astrolab, you will be responsible for the design, development, test, flight, and operation of novel structures and actuators critical to the Astrolab lunar rover.
As a Vehicle Engineering Thermal Intern at Astrolab, you will work collaboratively across engineering disciplines to optimize thermal management solutions, ensuring the longevity and functionality of our rovers during extended missions in harsh conditions.
- Department
- Vehicle Engineering
- Employment Type
- Internship
- Location
- Hawthorne, California
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $30.00 / hour
What you'll do:
General:
- Document designs, analyze results, and review validation outcomes to support team understanding and future reference
- Work closely with cross-functional teams, including Mechanical, Avionics, and Software Engineers to ensure system compatible solutions are executed effectively
Mechanical Engineering Internship:
- Collaborate with the engineering design team to understand the mechanical needs of the Astrolab rover, leveraging experience to contribute to the evolution of the design
- Design and analysis of mechanical systems at the full system and sub system level using software simulation methods and experimental test data
Thermal Engineering Internship:
- Develop thermal control strategies and systems for planetary rovers, including thermal analysis, design, and testing for operation in extreme environments
- Conduct thermal modeling and simulation, including transient and steady-state thermal analysis for systems exposed to vacuum, radiation, and temperature extremes
What you'll bring:
General
- Education: Currently pursuing or recently graduated with a STEM-related degree (e.g., Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering)
- Experience: At least 3 months of applied engineering experience outside of the classroom, including research, extracurricular project teams, personal projects, or prior internship/work experience
- Experience using CAD software for part modeling and development
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Mechanical Engineer Internship
- Experience in design for manufacturing and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing of parts
- Experience in the engineering of structures, mechanisms, and actuators
- Experience performing structural analysis using hand calcs and/ or using FEA software (NX, Femap, etc.
Thermal Engineer Internship
- Familiarity with thermal FEA software (Thermal Desktop, Ansys, etc.)
- Ability to analyze and make decisions based on thermal test data and simulation results
Benefits and Perks
- Work with a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- On-site snacks, beverages, and 2x weekly lunches
- Competitive internship salary
About Astrolab
Having a strong, inclusive, and inspired team is essential to accomplishing our bold mission. Employees are our biggest asset, and we are deeply committed to them and our values. At Astrolab we…
Demonstrate and inspire trust. Interactions are direct, honest, and respectful. We are fair and transparent with what we do and why.
Thrive in balance. Balance gives us perspective and keeps us motivated and inspired. We commit to rewarding work and a fulfilling personal life.
Seek diverse perspectives. We ask questions, engage in productive debate and offer alternatives to ensure our solutions and products are robust and a reflection of our collective best.
Move with purpose. Quality and reliability are accomplished through efficient ideation and iteration. We act with a sense of urgency and deliver what we promise, always with the big picture in mind.
Make an impact. We intentionally move our community and industry into the future through our work, practices, and actions.
Our Hiring Process
Astrolab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, parental or pregnancy status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to careers@astrolab.space. We strive to remove unconscious and unnecessary barriers to build the best team. While we’ve outlined what an ideal candidate could look like, we know that you may bring something unanticipated and essential to the team. If you’re reading this and can see yourself contributing, please register below.
