Mechanical/Test 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 engineering intern for Spring 2027 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

• $25-35/hr + relocation + company perks
• Spring Internship from January-May depending on your school schedule