Engineering Co-op

About Us Salient Motion is building a modular motion and actuation platform that is redefining how aerospace, defense, and industrial systems are designed, built, and deployed. We move fast, operate with high ownership, and expect real contribution from every member of the team. Co-ops are treated like engineers, not observers. You will own real work, ship to production hardware, and leave with a body of work you can point to. Role Overview As an Engineering Co-op, you will embed with our engineering team across mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and systems-level work for six months or longer. Unlike a short summer internship, this role is designed for students who want to take a project from specification through qualification, see a full product cycle, and operate as a contributing member of the team. This is a hands-on role in a fast-paced startup environment. You will be expected to ramp quickly, take ownership of a defined workstream, and ship work that goes into customer programs. What You Will Do Own a scoped engineering workstream from design through test and release, with support from a senior engineerDesign, build, and test electro-mechanical systems and subassemblies on active customer programsBuild, maintain and improve test fixtures, data collection infrastructuresFirmware bring-up, design validation tests for electronics boardsLead prototyping, assembly, and hands-on lab and shop workPlan and execute engineering tests, collect data, and present results to the teamDrive manufacturing and supplier activities including part preparation, first-article inspection, and validationBuild and improve engineering and documentation processes that outlast your co-op termPartner with senior engineers and program leaders, and present progress in design and program reviews What We Are Looking For Enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field, with the ability to commit to a minimum 6-month co-op rotationAvailable for a full-time term, whether a full academic semester, summer plus a connecting semester, or two consecutive semestersStrong curiosity and willingness to work across disciplinesComfortable in a lab or shop environment with hardware and toolsClear communicator who can document work, present results, and ask thoughtful questionsPrior hands-on experience through projects, labs, clubs, personal builds, or a previous internship or co-op is a strong plus What You Will Gain Ownership of real production-bound hardware over a long enough window to see it shipExposure to aerospace and defense engineering standards and practices through a full program cycleMentorship from experienced engineers and direct access to founders and program leadershipA portfolio of shipped work and a reference from a startup that moved on your contributionsCo-ops completing 9+ months in good standing are evaluated for a full-time return offer at graduation Co-op Details Full-time, paid co-op, with pay tiered by commitment length:6-month rotation: $28 to $34/hr9 to 12 month rotation: $34 to $40/hrMinimum 6-month commitment; 9 to 12 month rotations preferredStart dates flexible to align with your school's co-op calendar. Common cadences include January to June, July to December, and July to June for full-year rotationsOnsite in Torrance, CA; relocation support includes a $1,200/month housing stipend for students relocating more than 50 miles