Engineering Intern

Job Description

SUMMARY:

Without the strength of our Engineering Team, we would not be able to offer the industry-leading service we’re known for. Karman Space & Defense is looking for talented and driven engineering students to join our Summer 2025 internship program at our South El Monte and Corona locations. Our sites are at the forefront of advanced aerospace manufacturing, supporting some of the most critical programs in space, defense, and aviation. As an intern, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside experienced engineers on meaningful projects that support real production and continuous improvement efforts. This program is ideal for students who are passionate about hands-on learning and want exposure to real-world applications of engineering in a high-mix, high-tech manufacturing environment. Internships are full-time, paid, and run for 10–12 weeks over the summer.

ABOUT US:

KARMAN SPACE & DEFENSE: Karman is the market leading suppliers of metallic and composite flight hardware and sub-assemblies for the space, missile, and hypersonic markets. Karman offers an unprecedented capability set to customers, creating a supply chain solution in a historically fragmented supply base. The Karman team draws on in-house expertise in engineering & design, precision machining, large part forming, welding, heat age, finishing, assembly, ablative & insulative composites, and other capabilities to serve as a strategic partner to customers. Karman is headquartered in greater Los Angeles and currently has 5 locations in Southern California, 1 location in Mukilteo, Washington and 1 location in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Who We’re Looking For:

We are seeking motivated students who are eager to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real challenges in manufacturing, automation, quality, and engineering systems. Whether you're interested in machining technology, process improvement, automation, or systems integration, we offer opportunities to match your interests.

Summer Engineering Internship Projects:

CNC Programming Tooling Standardization - Manufacturing Engineering Intern – Tooling & Programming Systems

(Focus on tool library standardization, programming systems, and cross-site tooling strategy.)

Develop standardized tool libraries for CATIA and Mastercam, including detailed specifications for holders and cutting tools.

Collaborate with programmers and machinists to align on best practices for tool naming conventions and setup sheets.

Establish and document a sustainable inventory management system for tooling across Karman LA sites (Get 95% of tools into MSC like management system).

Implement a shared activity directory to maintain and evolve the tool library standard as part of continuous improvement efforts.

Setup Time Reduction for Production Jobs - Industrial Engineering Intern – Setup Optimization

(Focus on time studies, lean implementation, and efficiency improvements on key production jobs.)

Perform detailed time studies on top-volume machining jobs to identify setup bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

Propose and implement lean manufacturing solutions to streamline setups with a target of reducing setup time by at least 50%.

Document results, build before/after benchmarks, and develop standardized setup guides to ensure repeatability and training support.

Inspection Process Integration and Automation - Software Engineering Intern – Digital Inspection Systems

(Focus on automating inspection workflows, integrating Verisurf with engineering data, and improving data flow from model to measurement.)

Collaborate with the quality team to improve the conversion of customer-supplied data into Verisurf inspection programs.

Develop automated workflows and templates to accelerate program creation and reduce manual data entry.

Formalize data collection and reporting processes, supporting integration into a centralized database or digital dashboard.

Help identify opportunities for future automation or digital inspection enhancements.

In-Machine Probing Implementation - Manufacturing Engineering Intern – In-Process Metrology

(Focus on probing integration, machine utilization, and automated part verification.)

Lead the implementation of in-process probing on CNC machines to reduce reliance on manual inspection and offload workload from inspection trackers.

Collaborate with machinists, programmers, and quality personnel to identify candidate parts and machines for probing integration.

Develop probing routines for at least one production part per machine capable of probing, focusing on keeping machines in-cycle and increasing spindle utilization.

Document probing workflows, training guides, and best practices to support broader adoption across the site.

Advancing Quality Systems through Technology and Automation - Systems Engineering Intern – Quality Automation & Data Intelligence

(Focus on leveraging software tools, automation platforms, and AI to modernize quality processes and documentation handling.)

Explore and implement modern data solutions, automation tools, and AI technologies to streamline quality documentation and data handling processes.

Evaluate current state workflows related to FAI, AS9102 forms, inspection records, and nonconformance reporting to identify inefficiencies and manual pain points.

Develop pilot solutions to digitize or automate key quality tasks, such as document routing, data extraction, reporting, and compliance tracking.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to validate and implement scalable solutions that improve accuracy, reduce administrative burden, and enhance data accessibility.

Thank you,

Ideal candidates are:

Pursuing degrees in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Software, Quality, or Systems Engineering

Strong problem solvers with a hands-on approach

Comfortable working in a collaborative, fast-paced team environment

Curious and motivated to learn new technologies, processes, and tools

Effective communicators who enjoy building relationships across teams

What You’ll Gain:

Practical experience on projects that have real operational impact

Mentorship and exposure to engineering leaders in the aerospace industry

Access to modern manufacturing technology and production environments

Networking opportunities across our Southern California facilities

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position operates in a professional office and manufacturing environment

Equal Opportunity

Karman is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; citizenship status; uniform servicemember status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.

Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.