Mechanical Engineering Co-op (Fall 2027) at Xona in Burlingame, CA

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'll become 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.

Unlike a traditional internship, this six-month co-op provides the opportunity to take ownership of larger engineering efforts that span design, manufacturing, validation, and implementation. You'll collaborate closely with experienced engineers while gaining hands-on exposure to the pace and responsibility of building flight hardware in a startup environment.

This is an ideal opportunity for students who want meaningful ownership, real engineering experience, and the chance to see their work deployed in support of spacecraft production.

What You'll Do

• Lead 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, and assembly activities.
• Support integration, testing, verification, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Participate in design reviews and cross-functional engineering discussions.
• Present project updates and final results to engineering leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Ability to commit to a full-time, six-month co-op.
• Experience with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software.
• Strong mechanical design fundamentals.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Comfortable working in both office and laboratory environments.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines.
• Ability to work on-site in Burlingame throughout the co-op.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with robotics, CubeSat, Formula SAE, aerospace projects, or research labs.
• Familiarity with DFM principles and manufacturing processes.
• Experience producing engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Exposure to structural analysis, tolerance analysis, or mechanical testing.
• Hands-on experience assembling or validating hardware.
• Passion for aerospace, spacecraft, and hardware development.

Why You'll Love This Co-op

• Own engineering work that directly supports spacecraft production.
• Gain six months of immersive experience alongside experienced aerospace engineers.
• See projects progress from concept through operational deployment.
• Work in a highly collaborative environment with meaningful technical ownership.
• Build practical skills that prepare you for a career in spacecraft and hardware engineering.
• Make an impact on technology that's redefining the future of global navigation.

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.