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Job Description

Overview

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company, focused on designing and building systems and hardware for lunar operations. They are seeking motivated interns to gain hands-on experience in production engineering, supporting the development of lunar rovers and production processes.

Responsibilities

  • Assist with the fabrication, assembly, and testing of avionics systems, structures, mechanisms, and electromechanical components.
  • Support integration efforts for rover subassemblies and fully integrated systems.
  • Contribute to the development of tooling, work instructions, and process documentation, with an emphasis on improving manufacturability and enhancing vehicle reliability.
  • Help troubleshoot and resolve technical issues during assembly and testing.
  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure efficient and accurate production.
  • Participate in vehicle testing activities, both on-site and in specialized facilities.

Requirements

  • Currently pursuing or recently completed a bachelor's or master's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) related discipline.
  • Engineering experience gained through coursework, research, student organizations, personal projects, internships, or other hands-on activities.
  • Experience using electronic test equipment such as power supplies, oscilloscopes, multimeters, or sensors.
  • Experience with eCAD software (e.g., Altium, OrCAD, KiCad) or mCAD software (e.g., NX, SolidWorks).
  • Basic programming experience using Python, LabVIEW, or a similar programming language.
  • Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles or process improvement methodologies.
  • Experience applying engineering principles in laboratory, project, or manufacturing environments.
  • Experience collaborating on team-based engineering projects.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills.

Benefits

  • On-site snacks, beverages, and twice-weekly lunches.
  • The opportunity to work with a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration.
  • Competitive internship salary.

Additional Information

  • Location: Hawthorne, California.

Benefits

On-site snacks, beverages, and twice-weekly lunches.
The opportunity to work with a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration.
Competitive internship salary.
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How this job compares in Hawthorne, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $30/hr, this posting comes in about 14% below the $35/hr median for welding jobs in Hawthorne, CA, where the middle half runs $31–$56/hr across 40 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 8% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. That gap is worth raising directly — in a market this size there is normally room to negotiate toward the median, particularly if you already hold the certifications the posting asks for.

The local market in Hawthorne, CA

We're tracking 40 other active welding openings in Hawthorne, CA right now, from 4 different employers. 11 of them were added in the last week. Across California as a whole we're tracking 580 other active welding openings from 283 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Hawthorne, or widen the search to California.

The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (34), Aerotek (16), and Volt (16). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Redondo Beach at $71/hr, Long Beach at $49/hr, and Santa Ana at $48/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Hawthorne, CA

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Winter 2026 Production Engineering Intern figures were last recalculated when this page was built.