Mechanical Engineering Intern
Company Description
Backed by leading climate and American dynamism investors, Terranova builds intelligent robotic systems to terraform the Earth itself - lifting land, restoring wetlands, and protecting critical infrastructure from floods and sea-level rise.
Our mission is to preserve the built environment, create new habitats, and usher in an era of abundance. Our work supports climate resilience, disaster recovery, and defense across the United States and beyond.
We’re assembling a world-class team that wants to work on something real, physical, and civilization-scale. If you want your work to reshape the world (literally), this is the place to do it.
What to to Expect
As a Mechanical Engineer Intern at Terranova, you will own the mechanical design of large-scale industrial systems while maintaining a systems-level overview across mechanical, electrical, and controls disciplines. You thrive in a startup environment - owning problems end-to-end, moving fast, and building machines that survive the real world.
You’ll lead projects from concept through field deployment: designing, analyzing, fabricating, and testing large-scale robotic systems that operate in the most demanding environments on Earth. Expect to be hands-on, spend long hours in the factory and in the field working alongside technicians and operators.
Key Responsibilities
Act as an extreme owner for mechanical and electromechanical aspects of Terranova's field deployed industrial systems
Perform first-principles engineering, FEA, hand calculations to optimize designs for real-world operation environments
Prototype builds, execute test campaigns, and push hardware to its limits to ensure field reliability
Collaborate closely with electrical, controls, and field deployment teams to deliver integrated, battle-tested systems
Drive failure analysis, testing, and iterative improvement based on real-world data
Preferred Skills and Experience
Real world experience in mechanical or electromechanical hardware design and analysis (plus for experience in machinery, robotics, or heavy industrial equipment )
Strong CAD proficiency (OnShape, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or NX)
Hands-on fabrication and prototyping skills - you enjoy working in the shop - have a history of working on hobby projects
Deep mechanical intuition and ability to design from first principles
Comfortable with the pace and intensity of early-stage startup life, including long days, 6-day workweeks, and extended field hours
Working towards a bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or related field
U.S. permanent residency required
Nice to Have Skills
Experience in high voltage AC power (480V, 120+ kW) conversion systems and lithium batteries
Experience with pumps and fluidics
Experience in electromechanical controls, hydraulics, or field-deployed systems
Familiarity with C++, Python, or similar for controls or simulation
Experience with compliance, HAZOP, or FMEA tools for machine safety
PCB and embedded systems design skills are a huge bonus
Compensation and Timeline
$20-28/hr + relocation + company perks
Summer Internship from May-September depending on your school schedule