Mechanical Engineering Co-op

About the role

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar - the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit - Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

Overview

As a Mechanical Engineering Co-op, you will be an embedded member of our Spacecraft Mechanical and Thermal team and contribute directly to the tools, systems, and hardware that enable spacecraft production and integration.

This is a six-month, full-time co-op intended for students who have already developed hands-on mechanical engineering experience through a prior internship, co-op, research role, or similarly rigorous engineering project. You will take ownership of meaningful engineering work spanning design, manufacturing, validation, and implementation.

You will work closely with experienced engineers in a fast-paced startup environment and see your work contribute to spacecraft production and integration.

What You'll Do

• Own the design and development of mechanical hardware supporting spacecraft manufacturing, integration, and test activities.
• Partner with engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams to define requirements and develop practical design solutions.
• Create detailed CAD models, manufacturing drawings, and engineering documentation.
• Perform engineering analyses to validate structural, mechanical, and packaging performance.
• Coordinate fabrication, procurement, assembly, and integration of designed hardware.
• Support integration, testing, verification, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Participate in design reviews and cross-functional engineering discussions.
• Communicate technical progress, tradeoffs, risks, and final results to engineering leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. Expected graduation between December 2026 and May 2028.
• Completed at least one prior internship or co-op in a mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, or closely related hardware-engineering role.
• Demonstrated experience designing, building, testing, or supporting mechanical hardware beyond coursework alone.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software.
• Ability to create or interpret mechanical drawings and basic engineering documentation.
• Working knowledge of mechanical design fundamentals, including material selection, fastening, tolerancing, load paths, and design tradeoffs.
• Ability to commit to a full-time, six-month co-op.
• Comfortable working in both office and hands-on laboratory/manufacturing environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work on-site in Burlingame throughout the co-op.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and releasing hardware for fabrication, including drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and/or bills of materials.
• Familiarity with DFM/DFA principles and common manufacturing processes such as machining, sheet metal, additive manufacturing, composites, or assembly processes.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, integration, test, troubleshooting, or validation.
• Experience with structural analysis, hand calculations, FEA, or test-data analysis.
• Experience in a fast-paced hardware environment, such as robotics, CubeSat teams, Formula SAE, aerospace, research laboratories, or manufacturing.
• Interest in spacecraft, aerospace, and high-reliability hardware development.