Technical Intern - Aerospace Engineer
Technical Intern - Aerospace Engineer
Company Overview
New Ascent is a hybrid Aerospace-EdTech business operating out of Crofton, Maryland. Our mission is to accelerate the expansion of Off-World economies by deploying rapid and affordable space transportation and exploration systems, engaging the next generation around space industry opportunities, and approaching business in a way that reminds people to occasionally look up and take a minute to think about “Where WE Go, Next.”
New Ascent Aerospace has developed technologies for various elements of High Impulse Launch systems: Ground-Based Launchers, Hypersonic Ascent Vehicles, and g-Ruggedized payloads like ChipSats. Recently, we have begun pursuing business opportunities related to using these technologies to provide resource prospecting services for Off-World bodies that include the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.
New Ascent Education’s MISSION: SubSpace is a broadcaster-led, virtual portal-driven, in-classroom mission experience around the launch and atmospheric descent of ChipSats. We work closely with a 501(c)(3) non-profit started by our founders, Space Explorers for Education, to provide aerospace-related STEM tools, experiences, and support for K-12 education worldwide.
Job Description
New Ascent’s college technical internship program is designed to provide students with a meaningful, hands-on introduction to careers in the space technology sector while advancing company initiatives. Our overall goals are:
- Provide interns with a positive and professional working experience in the space industry
- Tailor project-based assignments to each intern’s field of study that helps them translate classroom knowledge into valuable engineering work products
- Build confidence and interest that encourages long-term participation in the aerospace workforce
New Ascent is seeking an Aerospace Engineering Intern to:
- Support design, build, and test activities for aerospace prototypes and Off-World Resource Prospecting Test Beds
- Assist with development of ChipSats, rover, drone, Lunar Lander Simulator, Mission Operations Center, or related mechanical/aerospace subsystems
- Create or update CAD models, drawings, test plans, and technical documentation
- Participate in prototype assembly, integration, functional testing and performance evaluation, and anomaly resolution
- Contribute to engineering reviews, team meetings, and status updates
Education Requirements
Note: This internship is supported by funding from the Maryland Lighthouse Industries and AI Internship Program and some of the items below are requirements of the program.
- Enrolled or within two years of graduation from a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate Degree Program in a technical field
- Undergraduate candidates should have completed or expect to be complete with their Junior year of study by the internship start date
- Enrolled in and attending a Maryland institution of higher education and/or a Maryland resident
- GPA of 3.0 or better in relevant technical coursework
Experience Requirements
- Current undergraduate or graduate student in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field
- Coursework or project experience in areas such as mechanical design, dynamics, controls, spaceflight systems, robotics, or testing
- Familiarity with basic engineering principles, design and analysis tools, and test and documentation methods
- Preferred: hands-on experience through student design teams, research labs, maker projects, or prior internships
Role Logistics
- Projected Start Date: Late May / Early June
- Projected End Date: Mid / Late August
- Flexible work hours with a minimum of 32 hours/week
- Minimum Total Hours: 400 hours
- Physical Location of the Work: New Ascent’s Crofton, MD Office
- Hybrid work environment; two mandatory in-office days per week, typically Tuesday and Friday
- Periodic travel to New Ascent’s BaySTAR Test Range on Maryland’s Eastern Shore