Structures/Mechanical Engineering Intern - Fall 2026

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.

About The Role

Hermeus is seeking a hands-on Structures/Mechanical Engineering Intern to support the design, build, and test of flight hardware for next-generation aircraft systems. In this role, you will help design and develop mechanical subassemblies across the vehicle, including control surfaces, fuselage structures, avionics trays, and other flight-critical hardware.

This internship is ideal for students who enjoy owning real hardware, working in a fast-paced development environment, and taking designs from concept through fabrication, integration, and test.

Fall: Around 16 weeks (August - December)

Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of flight hardware and mechanical subassemblies for aircraft systems.
• Assist with CAD modeling, drawing creation, hardware release, and design updates.
• Perform basic hand calculations and engineering analysis to support design decisions.
• Help build, integrate, troubleshoot, and test prototype and flight hardware.
• Collaborate with structures, mechanical, manufacturing, avionics, and test teams to support vehicle development.
• Contribute to design reviews, test planning, and documentation of lessons learned.
• Support rapid iteration by identifying design improvements, simplifying hardware, and incorporating feedback from build and test activities.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field. (undergraduate student in your third or fourth year of study, or enrolled in a Master's or Ph.D. program).
• Strong engineering fundamentals, including statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, and mechanical design.
• Hands-on experience with hardware through internships, research, labs, personal projects, or student teams such as FSAE, rocketry, robotics, or similar.
• Familiarity with CAD tools
• Comfortable working with physical hardware, hand tools, test equipment, and fast-paced build environments.
• Interest in aircraft structures, mechanical systems, flight hardware, and rapid hardware development.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, and test teams.
• Strong understanding of engineering first principles.
• Enthusiasm for aviation and Hermeus's mission.
• GPA of 3.0 or above.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Designed and released flight hardware.
• Familiarity with Siemens Teamcenter and NX.
• You’ve built something that’s flown, broken, or both.