Sales Engineer Internship

MakerStage makes advanced manufacturing easier to access. This opportunity applies your mechanical engineering background to company research, technical outreach, and digital manufacturing platforms that serve real product development teams. You will connect teams with the right manufacturing paths, help translate DFM and process choices into clear messaging, and build skills at the intersection of mechanical engineering, digital manufacturing, and technical communication . Sales Engineering Fellow — mission and scope The role exists to help teams navigate prototyping and production with less friction. You will apply a mechanical engineering mindset to integrate classroom fundamentals with practical exposure to digital manufacturing workflows — connecting mechanical engineers, designers, and R&D groups with the right processes and suppliers. Expect hands‑on exposure to the intersection of mechanical engineering, digital manufacturing, and technical communication . 1 Research the account Map the company, product line, likely mechanical needs, and best engineering contact before sending anything. 2 Use manufacturing context to write outreach that helps the recipient see where CNC, sheet metal, or additive work may fit. 3 Qualify and hand off Capture notes, follow‑up context, and RFQ signals so the MakerStage team can continue the conversation cleanly. Figure 1. The fellowship centers on research‑led outreach: understand the account, open a useful technical conversation, and hand off qualified context. What you get What you'll gain Hands‑on experience that transfers to sales engineering, applications engineering, and technical program roles. Real outreach & pipeline work Own conversations with engineers and designers about prototyping, production, and DFM — with coaching from the MakerStage team. Hands‑on additive projects Opportunity to run personal or school builds through our additive network when program guidelines allow — FDM, SLA, SLS, or MJF. Digital manufacturing fluency Learn DFM, material selection, quoting, tolerancing, and supplier workflows on real programs — not just from a textbook. Technical communication Practice translating engineering and manufacturing concepts for startups, product teams, and student makers — the same skill set as sales engineering. Portfolio‑worthy experience Talk about real company research, outreach sequences, qualified meetings, and manufactured parts in your next interview. Meaningful work Help teams get from CAD to qualified RFQs faster — whether they are hardware startups or capstone groups. Figure 2. Fellows compare 3D printed and machined parts, the same practical context used when explaining process tradeoffs to engineering teams. Figure 3. Good qualification notes connect company research to real manufacturing context, including tolerances, inspection, and part handoff details. What you'll actually do Conduct outreach and communications with mechanical engineers, product designers, and R&D teams across California and other regions to understand prototyping and production needs and schedule introductory meetings. Research target companies, product lines, recent launches, funding signals, and likely manufacturing needs so outreach is specific and useful. Assist projects that translate engineering and manufacturing concepts into accessible insights for startups and product companies. Build account notes, contact lists, and follow‑up context so qualified opportunities can move cleanly from first conversation to RFQ handoff. When priorities fit, support MakerStage marketing efforts such as video content creation, trade‑show preparation, campaign research, and field feedback. Coordinate with the MakerStage team on follow‑up, qualification, and handoff so leads turn into real manufacturing work. Give honest product feedback from the field so we can improve the quoting and customer experience. What we are looking for Currently enrolled in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related program (industrial, manufacturing, mechatronics, or product design) at an accredited university, or equivalent relevant coursework. Comfortable with CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, or similar) on class or personal projects. Strong written and verbal communication — you will represent MakerStage in email, calls, and research notes. Self‑directed and reliable in a remote setting: Slack, email, and video calls with minimal supervision. Comfortable working remotely with clear expectations discussed with finalists and documented before work begins. Experience with Formula SAE, Baja SAE, rocketry, or competition robotics. Prior RFQs, quotes, or hands‑on shop or makerspace experience. Comfort on camera or on mic for short technical explainers. What this actually looks like A week in the life contains Monday, Wednesday, and Friday segments. Figure 4. Research quality matters: fellows connect company context, part examples, and manufacturing fit before outreach. Monday You research a Bay Area hardware startup’s bracket stack‑up, send a concise note on sheet metal vs CNC for their volume, and book a qualified intro call with their mechanical lead. Wednesday You research 20 companies in a target segment, identify the right engineering contacts, and write account notes that explain why CNC, sheet metal, or 3D printing may be relevant. Friday A qualified meeting you helped schedule converts to a follow‑up RFQ. You log the outcome and brief the team so the project keeps moving. #J-18808-Ljbffr MakerStage