R&D Engineer Intern

About the role

You will partner with senior engineers to define test objectives for advanced materials destined for space, defense, and maritime platforms. You will own the preparation of test articles, ensuring that sample preparation meets strict documentation standards and traceability. You will support the execution of mechanical and environmental testing campaigns, collecting measurements that inform design decisions. You will be responsible for maintaining detailed laboratory notebooks that capture procedures, observations, and anomalies in real time. You will analyze preliminary data sets to identify trends, flag anomalies, and propose corrective actions before test completion. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate test results into design insights that influence the next iteration of hardware. You will interface directly with customers and program stakeholders to understand requirements and validate that test objectives align with mission needs. You will contribute to the continuous improvement of test methods, tooling, and processes to enhance reliability and repeatability for future programs.

Key facts

What you'll do

Conduct preliminary reviews of customer requirements and technical specifications to translate high-level needs into measurable test objectives.

Support the development of detailed test plans that outline procedures, acceptance criteria, instrumentation, and risk mitigations for each test campaign.

Fabricate and assemble prototype components using manual and semi-automated processes, ensuring that each build conforms to engineering drawings and specifications.

Install and calibrate instrumentation channels, including sensors, data acquisition hardware, and signal conditioning equipment, to guarantee accurate and high-fidelity data capture.

Execute mechanical qualification tests, including tension, compression, flexure, and impact evaluations, under ambient and elevated temperature conditions.

Operate environmental test chambers to simulate thermal cycling, vacuum, and re-entry heating profiles while monitoring system performance and safety interlocks.

Capture, time-tag, and organize test data using structured file-naming conventions and metadata standards to ensure traceability and ease of retrieval.

Perform initial data reduction using standard tools, generating plots, tables, and summary statistics that highlight key performance metrics and outliers.

Document test anomalies, root-cause hypotheses, and proposed corrective actions in laboratory notebooks and formal reports for review by engineering leadership.

Assist in the preparation of test summary reports, including graphical visualizations, result interpretations, and recommendations for design iteration or further validation.

Support the generation of compliance matrices that map test results against customer requirements, industry standards, and internal design baselines.

Coordinate with manufacturing and quality teams to incorporate test feedback into process updates, ensuring that lessons learned are integrated into production activities.

Provide technical support during test execution, troubleshooting instrumentation issues, wiring connections, and data synchronization problems in real time.

Communicate progress during regular check-ins, highlighting accomplishments, risks, and upcoming milestones to keep projects on schedule and well-informed stakeholders.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program with a projected graduation date that aligns with the internship timeline.

Maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent academic performance metric recognized by your institution.

Eligible to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship for the duration of the internship, and able to commit to the full duration of the program.

Authorized to work in the state of Colorado and able to commute to or relocate to the Littleton area if required for in-person activities.

Available to work a minimum of 20 hours per week during the internship period, with flexibility to accommodate peak testing windows and critical milestones.

Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance if the role requires access to controlled unclassified information or defense-related technologies.

Familiarity with engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and basic metrology practices used in mechanical verification.

Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear technical notes and concise status updates for diverse audiences.

Committed to a safety-first mindset, adhering to laboratory procedures, personal protective equipment requirements, and test stand safety protocols at all times.

Nice to have

Prior exposure to mechanical testing, environmental testing, or material characterization methods commonly used in aerospace and defense applications.

Experience with test data acquisition systems, sensor instrumentation, and basic scripting for data processing or automation.

Knowledge of thermal analysis, vibration testing, or shock testing techniques and their relevance to aerospace system qualification.

Understanding of requirements management practices, verification and validation processes, and the role of testing in system-of-systems engineering.

Experience with CAD tools, model-based definition practices, or rapid prototyping methods that support design iteration and test article fabrication.

Practical notes

This internship requires on-site presence at the Littleton, Colorado facility during regular business hours, with potential adjustments to accommodate test windows and critical events.

Travel is generally limited to local commutes within the Denver metropolitan area, with rare exceptions requiring regional travel to partner test facilities.

This internship is contingent upon successful completion of background checks and, where applicable, security clearance processing.

International students must ensure that their current visa status permits unpaid internships in the United States and does not conflict with program requirements.

Interns are expected to commit to the full duration of the internship, with start and end dates aligned with academic calendars and program timelines.