Mechanical Engineering Intern

Making the Metals Powering the World

Solcoa Industries is an American rare earth metals producer headquartered in Alameda, California. We convert rare-earth oxides and magnet manufacturing scrap into the high-purity metals and alloys at the foundation of electrification, automation, and defense — the materials inside every fighter jet, EV, wind turbine, and phone.

For decades, the West has depended on China to produce these materials. Solcoa is rebuilding that supply chain at home: we're one of the very few producers outside China, and the only one developing new chemistries and a proprietary process to produce these metals at lower cost than conventional routes — without the harmful emissions.

The Role — Mechanical Engineering Intern

Join our hardware team and help turn designs into working systems. You'll support reactor subsystem design in CAD, assist with prototype builds and testing, and keep our documentation tight—working with engineers, machinists, and technicians to move quickly from concept to operation.

What You'll Do

• Update and create CAD (Fusion) models/drawings, BOMs, and simple GD&T for thermal, vacuum, and handling subsystems.

• Assist with prototype fabrication and assembly: cutting, drilling, tapping, fitting, and basic machining.

• Help select components (valves, fittings, heaters, sensors) for high-temperature and vacuum environments under engineer guidance.

• Run tests, collect/clean data, and summarize results to inform design iterations.

• Perform leak checks, pressure tests, maintain organized logs.

• Support vendor outreach, quotes, and purchasing; keep parts and tooling organized.

• Contribute to safety-first culture and continuous improvement on the shop floor.

What You Bring

Required

• Pursuing a BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

• Working proficiency with CAD (Fusion preferred; SolidWorks ok).

• Hands-on build experience from labs, clubs, internships, or personal projects (machine shop tools, 3D printing, or fabrication).

• Detail-oriented, disciplined documentation, and reliable follow-through.

• Comfortable in a fast-paced, hardware-centric environment and willing to get your hands dirty.

• On-site availability; able to start soon.

Preferred

• Exposure to high-temperature or vacuum systems (furnaces, pumps, flanges) and basic thermal/fluids coursework.

• Simple analysis skills (hand calcs, spreadsheets; FEA/thermal tools a plus).

• Welding or TIG familiarity; basic machining on mill/lathe.

• Python/MATLAB for data analysis.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive hourly pay

• Company-provided lunch daily

• J1 Visa sponsorship available if needed