Job Description

Overview

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is a nonprofit applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology, focusing on problem-solving research for government and industry. The Mechanical Engineering Co-op program offers students hands-on experience in mechanical design and development within the Aerospace, Transportation, and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ATAS).

Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and document designs for DOD applications.
  • Conduct mechanical design and analysis.
  • Utilize machining, 3D-printing, sheet metal bending, and other manufacturing processes.
  • Build assemblies and integrate subsystems.
  • Perform part finishing processes such as conversion coating, anodizing, and painting.
  • Use SolidWorks and other design tools to create parts, assemblies, and drawings.
  • Develop hands-on engineering skills while coordinating assembly and testing of large prototype systems.
  • Conduct tolerance analysis.
  • Provide logistical support.

Requirements

  • Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
  • 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA.
  • Eligible to participate in a co-op program and register for co-op credit.
  • Must complete at least three full-time co-op terms prior to graduation.
  • Experience using SolidWorks is preferred.
  • Strong math skills and ability to learn complex engineering concepts.
  • Some hands-on/fabrication experience is preferred.
  • Familiarity with configuration management tools is preferred.
  • Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas and concepts.

Additional Information

  • 40 hours per week.
  • Housing and relocation assistance are not available for this position.
  • Candidates must be U.S. Citizens and able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.

How this job compares in Smyrna, GA

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs across Georgia currently run a median of $28/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $22–$34/hr across 178 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market in Smyrna, GA

Smyrna, GA currently has 5 other active welding openings besides this one, spread across 5 employers. 4 of them were added in the last week. Across Georgia as a whole we're tracking 444 other active welding openings from 281 employers. That's enough local activity to be worth comparing two or three offers before committing. Browse every welding job in Smyrna, or widen the search to Georgia.

The most active employers in Georgia at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Marathon (10), Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC (7), and Southern Industrial Constructors, Inc. (7). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Georgia, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Forest Park at $39/hr, Atlanta at $33/hr, and Conyers at $31/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Smyrna, GA

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Mechanical Engineering Co-op - Spring 2027 - ATAS figures were last recalculated when this page was built.