What are the responsibilities and job description for the Thermal Engineering Intern position at Intuitive Machines LLC?
Thermal Engineering Intern
Houston, TX
Summer 2026: Late May - Early August
About Intuitive Machines:
Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting-edge space company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private customers. Our mission is to further science and exploration, communications, and economic progress from the Earth to the Moon and beyond. With the first commercial lunar landing in history, multiple NASA lunar missions in development, and additional private missions on our manifest, we pride ourselves in supporting our customers and the nation in paving the way to return humans to the surface of the Moon. Our world-class team includes experts in all aspects of spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.
Internship Overview:
Intuitive Machines is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented individual to join our Thermal Engineering team as an intern. As a Thermal Engineer Intern, you will support the development, analysis, and validation of thermal control systems for spacecraft and payloads. This internship offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with active and passive thermal systems in support of lunar landers and other spaceflight hardware.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in the modeling and analysis of thermal systems using industry-standard tools such as Thermal Desktop or SINDA/FLUINT.
- Support thermal testing, including setup, execution, and data analysis of thermal vacuum (TVAC) and thermal cycling tests.
- Contribute to the design and sizing of thermal hardware such as heaters, insulation, radiators, and heat straps.
- Help generate and maintain thermal engineering documentation including analysis reports, test plans, and interface control documents.
- Collaborate with mechanical, avionics, systems, and test engineering teams to integrate thermal control strategies across the spacecraft.
- Participate in trade studies and reviews to evaluate thermal design approaches and solutions.
Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field. Certifications and associates backgrounds also welcome.
- Strong interest in spacecraft thermal control, thermal modeling, and environmental testing.
- Familiarity with thermal analysis tools (e.g., Thermal Desktop, SINDA, ANSYS) and CAD platforms is a plus.
- Solid understanding of heat transfer principles: conduction, convection, and radiation.
- Effective communication and collaboration skills.
- Willingness to learn in a fast-paced and multidisciplinary aerospace environment.
Benefits:
- Gain practical experience in thermal control design and analysis for spaceflight systems.
- Work with experienced aerospace professionals and expand your technical skillset.
- Participate in real missions and contribute to hardware bound for the Moon.
- Receive mentorship and career development support during your internship.
US EEO Statement
Intuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.