What are the responsibilities and job description for the Material & Processes Engineering Intern position at Canopy A&D?
About Canopy Aerospace & Defense
Canopy A&D is built to accelerate the future of advanced materials for space, defense, and maritime systems. Canopy delivers specialized materials and components that carry customers from concept through sustainment. Canopy A&D’s advanced signal attenuation technologies and production-scale manufacturing accelerate the fielding of platforms that are faster, cooler, and quieter. Our adaptive approach ensures solutions evolve at the pace of shifting challenges, keeping our customers ahead of the curve.
Position Summary
Canopy Technologies is seeking exceptional engineering and materials science students to join our team as Materials & Processes Engineering Interns for Fall 2026. In this role, you will help develop next-generation thermal protection materials for spacecraft and hypersonic vehicles. These systems must survive extreme environments including re-entry heating, plasma exposure, and high mechanical loads.
Interns on the materials team contribute directly to the design, formulation, and testing of new material systems, including polymer-derived ceramics, advanced composite substrates, and high-temperature resin systems. You will work alongside engineers and scientists to prototype new TPS materials from first principles — mixing formulations, fabricating samples, and evaluating their performance in laboratory and high-temperature test environments.
This role is ideal for students who enjoy combining chemistry, materials science, and hands-on experimentation to develop materials that push the limits of aerospace performance.
\n- Assist with the design and formulation of new thermal protection materials, including polymer-derived ceramics and composite substrates
- Prepare and process experimental material formulations using custom resin systems and fillers
- Fabricate composite and polymer samples using techniques such as casting, layup, curing, and infiltration
- Characterize material properties including thermal conductivity, density, mechanical properties, and thermal stability
- Assist with high-temperature testing of materials in laboratory or simulated aerothermal environments
- Analyze experimental results to inform material design and processing parameters
- Document material formulations, processing methods, and test results
- Support scale-up and manufacturing development efforts for promising material systems
- Collaborate with aerothermal, structural, and manufacturing teams to integrate materials into TPS designs
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Chemistry, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- Experience applying engineering skills outside the classroom through laboratory work, research, engineering project teams, or personal projects
- Strong foundation in materials science, chemistry, or polymer science
- Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar scientific computing languages
- Experience with laboratory experimentation or materials characterization through coursework, research, or project work
- Strong professional communication and technical writing skills
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative R&D environment
- Coursework or research experience involving polymers, composites, or ceramic materials
- Experience with polymer formulation, resin systems, or composite processing
- Familiarity with characterization techniques such as TGA, DSC, DMA, SEM, or thermal conductivity measurement
- Experience working with laboratory equipment and experimental test methods
- Exposure to high-temperature materials or aerospace materials systems
- Participation in research labs, materials-focused project teams, or internships
- Location: Onsite in Littleton, CO
- Schedule/Hours: ~30 hours a week, M-F
- Hourly Pay Rate: $25
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Total compensation will also include a comprehensive set of benefits including but not limited to: Company paid employee medical, dental and vision insurance. Retirement plan participation (eligibility required), paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid holidays and discretionary bonuses.
EXPORT CONTROL REQUIREMENTS:
To conform to US Government export regulations, the applicant must be a (i) US Citizen, (ii) lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (aka green card holder), (iii) protected individual as defined by U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or (iv) eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Canopy A&D is an Equal Opportunity Employer, employment with Canopy A&D is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.