---
title: 'Mechanical Engineering Co-op at Xona Space Systems'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineering-co-op-xona-space-systems-burlingame-a055f4m31xt7'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-04'
---

# Mechanical Engineering Co-op at Xona Space Systems

- **Company:** Xona Space Systems
- **Location:** Burlingame, CA
- **Compensation:** $30–$45/hr
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-04
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/xona-space/4bf79312-d4c4-4ae2-bdfc-85c9e63937ad

## Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

## Overview

As a Mechanical Engineering Co-op, you will be an embedded member of our Spacecraft Mechanical and Thermal team and contribute directly to the tools, systems, and hardware that enable spacecraft production and integration. This is a six-month, full-time co-op intended for students who have already developed hands-on mechanical engineering experience through a prior internship, co-op, research role, or similarly rigorous engineering project. You will take ownership of meaningful engineering work spanning design, manufacturing, validation, and implementation. You will work closely with experienced engineers in a fast-paced startup environment and see your work contribute to spacecraft production and integration.

## What You'll Do

- Own the design and development of mechanical hardware supporting spacecraft manufacturing, integration, and test activities.
- Partner with engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams to define requirements and develop practical design solutions.
- Create detailed CAD models, manufacturing drawings, and engineering documentation.
- Perform engineering analyses to validate structural, mechanical, and packaging performance.
- Coordinate fabrication, procurement, assembly, and integration of designed hardware.
- Support integration, testing, verification, and continuous improvement efforts.
- Participate in design reviews and cross-functional engineering discussions.
- Communicate technical progress, tradeoffs, risks, and final results to engineering leadership.

Required Qualifications

- Currently pursuing a BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. Expected graduation between December 2026 and May 2028.
- Completed at least one prior internship or co-op in a mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, or closely related hardware-engineering role.
- Demonstrated experience designing, building, testing, or supporting mechanical hardware beyond coursework alone.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software.
- Ability to create or interpret mechanical drawings and basic engineering documentation.
- Working knowledge of mechanical design fundamentals, including material selection, fastening, tolerancing, load paths, and design tradeoffs.
- Ability to commit to a full-time, six-month co-op.
- Comfortable working in both office and hands-on laboratory/manufacturing environments.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to work on-site in Burlingame throughout the co-op.

## Preferred Qualifications

- Experience designing and releasing hardware for fabrication, including drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and/or bills of materials.
- Familiarity with DFM/DFA principles and common manufacturing processes such as machining, sheet metal, additive manufacturing, composites, or assembly processes.
- Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, integration, test, troubleshooting, or validation.
- Experience with structural analysis, hand calculations, FEA, or test-data analysis.
- Experience in a fast-paced hardware environment, such as robotics, CubeSat teams, Formula SAE, aerospace, research laboratories, or manufacturing.
- Interest in spacecraft, aerospace, and high-reliability hardware development.

## Why You'll Love This Co-op

- Take ownership of engineering work that directly supports spacecraft production.
- Work through the full hardware-development cycle: requirements, design, fabrication, integration, test, and deployment.
- Gain six months of immersive experience alongside experienced aerospace engineers.
- See your projects progress from concept through operational deployment.
- Work in a highly collaborative environment with meaningful technical ownership.
- Build practical, career-relevant experience in spacecraft and high-reliability hardware development.
- Help develop technology redefining the future of global navigation.

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

## About Xona Space Systems

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Xona Space Systems is building Pulsar, a high-integrity positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) constellation in Low Earth Orbit that delivers authenticated, centimeter-accurate services as a resilient alternative to GPS.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C – $170M raised ~April 2026)
- **Headquarters**: Burlingame, California, USA (also offices in Montreal, Canada and London, England)
- **Founded**: 2019
- **Founders**: Brian Manning (CEO), Tyler Reid (CTO), Adrien Perkins (VP of Engineering)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace / Satellite Navigation, Defense & Critical Infrastructure, Autonomous Systems
- **Target customers**: B2B / B2G – enterprise, government, defense, autonomous robotics, construction, industrial IoT, and any application requiring resilient PNT
- **Mission**: “Unlock the potential of tomorrow’s technologies by providing the most robust and accurate navigation and timing services on Earth.”

## Products & Services
- **Pulsar Constellation**: A network of 258 small, software-defined satellites in LEO broadcasting secured, authenticated PNT signals. Offers native user accuracy at centimeter level and is designed to upgrade existing GPS devices via a software update.
- **Pulsar‑Verified Receivers & Simulators**: Certified hardware and test platforms for integrators. Includes reference designs and simulation tools.
- **Time Authentication Service**: A cryptographic layer that validates the origin and integrity of timing signals, providing resilience against spoofing and jamming.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (conflicting reports may exist; no official figure available)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding $327.53M (CB Insights); latest Series C closed ~April 2026 (amount $170M)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Not publicly disclosed (funding specifics unknown). Key partners include Murata (MOU for LEO navigation in industrial applications), the Government of Canada (R&D collaboration to strengthen timing resilience), and the National Research Council of Canada.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Successfully launched Pulsar‑0, the first commercially funded navigation satellite, now in orbit for one year (June 2026).
  - 11+ patents filed (encrypted navigation signals, wireless locating, etc.).
  - Active hiring in Burlingame, Montreal, and London; 828 employees on LinkedIn as of mid‑2026.
  - Collaboration with ISED, NRC, and DRDC to broadcast Canada’s official time signal (UTC(NRC)) from space.

## Competitive Advantages
- **First‑mover with a privately funded navigation satellite** – Pulsar‑0 set a precedent for commercial LEO PNT.
- **Authenticated signals** – Cryptographic security native to the signal provides spoofing/jamming resistance unmatched by traditional GPS.
- **Software‑defined satellites** – Rapid constellation scaling and in‑orbit updates at a fraction of legacy system cost.
- **Multi‑national timing broadcast** – Ability to carry multiple official time standards (US, UK, Canada) on a shared infrastructure, creating sovereign resilience for allies.

## Strategic Focus
- **Constellation deployment** – Scale from prototype (Pulsar‑0) to a full production fleet of 258 satellites.
- **Ecosystem enablement** – Grow partner network of receiver makers, chipset vendors, and integrators (e.g., Murata, government bodies).
- **Geographic expansion** – Establish a strong presence in Canada (Montreal) and the UK (London) while deepening relationships with allied governments.
- **Defense & critical infrastructure** – Pursue contracts that require autonomous, tamper‑proof PNT for military, aviation, and grid timing.

## Why Work Here
- **Impact** – Work on “a generational technology at startup speed”; decisions are pushed to the people closest to the work. Culture of ownership and rapid iteration.
- **Compensation** – Competitive salary, equity (ownership culture), 401(k) / Roth 401(k).
- **Benefits** – 95% of healthcare premiums covered for US employees (50% for dependents); HSA/FSA options; supportive parental leave (equitable); flexible time off.
- **Workplace** – Burlingame office with catered lunches twice a week, snacks, drinks, coffee. Roles also in Montreal and London (hybrid likely per location, but remote‑first not stated).
- **Culture** – Engineering‑driven, fast‑shipping, collaborative; team includes leaders from industry and academia.

## Sources
1. [xonaspace.com](https://www.xonaspace.com/)
2. [xonaspace.com/careers](https://www.xonaspace.com/careers)
3. [xonaspace.com/mission](https://www.xonaspace.com/mission)
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/xonaspace)
5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/xona-space-systems)

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- [Technical Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-recruiter-xona-space-systems-montreal-gad04nx4ktzw) — Montréal, Canada
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-9ev6s1stx287) — Burlingame, CA
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- [Supply Chain Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/supply-chain-manager-xona-space-systems-montreal-32kfvx011bew) — Montréal, Canada
- [UE Verification Specialist (Canada)](https://feeny.ai/job/ue-verification-specialist-canada-xona-space-systems-montreal-mretdw5r4fwm) — Montréal, Canada
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