Mechanical Design Engineering Internship

Amperesand6 months ago
Reno, NV, United States
On-site
Internship
Junior Level (1-3 years)

Job Description

Internship Duration:

May 2026 - August 2026

Role Summary

Amperesand is working to develop, build, test, and validate a ground-up redesigned next-generation solid state transformer (SST) and the power stage modules (PSMs) that convert power from medium-voltage AC to customer-facing DC output. This internship will include building and testing of prototype units, root cause analysis of issues found, and design and changes of parts to fix or improve.

Responsibilities:

  • Utilize CAD software to create detailed mechanical designs. 3DX/Catia experience preferred but not required.
  • Model and design complex electro-mechanical parts, including plastics, sheet metal, insulators, magnetic components, and high-voltage connectors.
  • Perform mechanical design analysis by means of first principal calculation or simulation with commercial software, including structural FEA, thermal CFD, vibration, and fatigue assessments.
  • Solve packaging challenges involving electrical isolation, sealing, thermal dissipation, EMI/EMC shielding, and mechanical shock/vibration.
  • Perform prototype development, fabrication, assembly, and mechanical testing of new designs.
  • Support root-cause analysis of design issues in pilot or production builds and lead iterative improvements.
  • Define and execute validation test plans including structural, thermal, and environmental testing.
  • 2D drawings with GD&T for production and inspection.
  • Create engineering documentation, tolerance stacks, BOMs, and release packages through PLM systems.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, thermal, firmware and controls, manufacturing, test, and industrial design teams.
  • Work closely with suppliers to optimize DFM, DFA, and tooling strategies for high-volume production.

Qualifications:

  • Final year undergraduate standing or graduate study in Mechanical Engineering or a closely-related field.
  • Expertise in CAD modeling using 3D EXPERIENCE (CATIA V6/V5), SolidWorks, NX, or Creo.
  • Deep understanding of mechanical fundamentals - statics, dynamics, heat transfer, and materials.
  • Working knowledge of materials: metals (aluminum, steel), plastics, ceramics, gaskets, potting compounds.
  • Comfortable with root-cause analysis, failure mode resolution, and mechanical reliability testing.
  • Passion for product innovation, sustainability, and enabling electrification through engineering excellence.

Bonus Qualifications:

  • Strong background in structural, thermal, and vibration analysis using commercial software, e.g. Ansys.
  • Proficiency in GD&T, tolerance analysis, and DFM/DFA principles.
  • Familiarity with PCBAs, connectors, and mechanical integration of high-density electronic assemblies.
  • Experience with high-volume manufacturing processes such as injection molding, die casting, extrusion, and sheet metal forming.
  • Experience with medium- to high-voltage systems and insulation coordination (creepage, clearance, potting, sealing).
  • Experience working in Agile development environments, including task management and sprint planning using Scrum methodologies and tools like Jira.

Please note:

This role requires working on-site 5 days a week. We do not offer hybrid or remote options.

Compensation:

$30 - $45/hour depending on location and level of experience

Required Skills

vibration analysis
mechanical design analysis
3D EXPERIENCE (CATIA V6/V5)
prototype development
root-cause analysis
packaging challenges
SolidWorks
Creo
tolerance stacks
engineering documentation
DFM
cross-functional collaboration
structural FEA
DFA
thermal CFD
CAD modeling
mechanical testing
BOMs
fatigue assessments
NX
GD&T