---
title: 'Software Engineering Intern at Astro Mechanica'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineering-intern-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-8b5att7qs11d'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-07'
---

# Software Engineering Intern at Astro Mechanica

- **Company:** Astro Mechanica
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $40–$55/hr
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-11-02
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-07
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Astro-Mechanica/740cedb6-3c69-49c2-8662-7997799b8c87

## Job description

## ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

## WHO WE ARE:

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

## WHO YOU ARE:

Astro Mechanica is seeking an intern to join our Software Engineering Team for the summer of 2027 (program begins on June 7, 2027 for semester schools and June 27, 2027 for quarter schools). This is not a sandbox internship. You’ll be embedded with the team in our San Francisco office, working on real projects that ship and contribute directly to our hardware and flight programs. The ideal candidate is curious, learns quickly, and is excited to write software that touches real aircraft systems. You’ll work alongside full-time engineers, take part in design discussions and code reviews, and own meaningful pieces of work from start to finish. Your work will move fast in a dynamic startup environment and will have a direct impact on our mission.

## WHAT YOU’LL DO:

- Work as an embedded member of the software team, joining standups, design reviews, and planning alongside full-time engineers
- Own a scoped, real-world project from design through implementation, testing, and delivery, with mentorship from senior engineers
- Contribute to flight software, simulation, test infrastructure, or internal engineering tools
- Test your code on real flight hardware (flight computers, embedded microprocessors, engine hardware)
- Write clean, testable, and maintainable code, including unit and integration tests
- Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, propulsion, and controls engineers to understand software requirements
- Debug issues across the stack and learn how software integrates with embedded and real-time systems
- Present your work to the team at the end of the summer

## WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

- Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Math, or a Science discipline
- Experience with C++, Rust, Python, or another programming language, through coursework, projects, research, or prior internships
- Solid fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, and object oriented programming
- Familiarity with version control (Git) and software testing practices
- Ambition to work in a fast-paced environment and take ownership of your work
- Available for a full-time, in-person internship in San Francisco during Summer 2027 (approximately 10–12 weeks)

## PERKS & BENEFITS:

- Competitive hourly pay
- Hands-on mentorship from experienced engineers
- Company-funded perks, including team lunches, game nights, and other activities

## ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role. Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

## About Astro Mechanica

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Astro Mechanica is building the world’s first turboelectric adaptive jet engine (Duality) that achieves high efficiency across both subsonic and supersonic speeds, aiming to democratize high-speed flight.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Venture-backed; latest round: Series A-II / Venture Round in September 2025)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Ian Brooke (CEO & Founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace, aviation propulsion, defense systems
- **Target customers**: US government (military and defense applications), commercial aviation (long-term), cargo/logistics
- **Mission/purpose**: “Democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable” – developing rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility.

## Products & Services
- **Duality™ Propulsion System**: A proprietary dual-use turboelectric adaptive jet engine designed to be efficient at all speeds from subsonic to supersonic. Currently in development and expected to begin altitude testing in 2027 on a dedicated testbed aircraft.
- **Airframe & Flight Systems**: Vertically integrated design of airframes and flight control systems optimized for the Duality engine, with near-term focus on government contracts.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – **$54.7 million** as of the latest venture round in September 2025 (LinkedIn data; earlier reports by CBInsights indicated $27.6 million, likely reflecting a prior round)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: United Airlines Ventures (lead investor in latest round), Andreessen Horowitz, Giant Step Capital, Y Combinator (seed)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew **228.6% year-over-year** to ~35 employees; **36 active job postings** as of mid-2025; rapid hiring across engineering, manufacturing, and leadership roles; moving toward engine flight test in 2027.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique engine architecture**: The turboelectric adaptive design allows a single engine to operate efficiently from subsonic to supersonic regimes, removing the need for afterburners or separate engines.
- **Vertical integration**: In-house engine, airframe, and flight systems development enables tight optimization and rapid iteration.
- **Flat engineering culture**: Described as “generalists with specialist depth” and a flat structure that accelerates decision-making and innovation.

## Strategic Focus
- **Near-term**: Engine altitude testing (scheduled for 2027) and securing US government contracts for high-speed systems.
- **Long-term**: Develop a full aircraft platform and operational model for economically viable supersonic commercial travel.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasis on engineering excellence, pragmatism, and moving fast. Flat hierarchy where “engineering speaks louder than hierarchy.”
- **Work policy**: Hybrid environment – most roles are based in San Francisco with a mix of in-office and remote collaboration. The majority of job listings specify “In-Office” at the HQ.
- **Notable perks**: Not explicitly listed, but the company offers equity (typical for startups) and the opportunity to work on groundbreaking aerospace technology from concept to flight.
- **Engineering focus**: Strong technical team with talent from SpaceX, Relativity Space, Boom Supersonic, Lockheed Martin, and Astra. Active hiring in propulsion, flight software, GNC, test engineering, and manufacturing.

## Sources
1. [astromecha.co](https://www.astromecha.co/)
2. [astromecha.co/careers](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica)
3. [linkedin.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astro-mechanica)
4. [cbinsights.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/astro-mechanica)
5. [builtin.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://builtin.com/company/astro-mechanica)

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