Intern - Propulsion Engineering - In-Space Propulsion

Dawn Aerospace is seeking a highly motivated Propulsion Engineering Intern to join our Systems RnD Team in Delft. This internship offers the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of the space industry and contribute to the development of world-leading in-space propulsion technology for small and medium-sized satellites.

In this role, you will support the experimental characterization of a small spacecraft propulsion system. The internship focuses on hot-fire performance testing across the thruster operating envelope. Working closely with experienced propulsion and test engineers, you will contribute to test planning, execution, data analysis, and reporting. The role provides hands-on exposure to propulsion hardware, test facilities, and real engineering decision-making in a space-hardware environment. If you’re proactive, technically curious, and excited to learn in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you.

• Perform system-level hot-fire propulsion tests
• Support test setup, instrumentation, and sensor integration
• Collect, process, and analyse experimental test data
• Characterise operating limits and constraints
• Assess system performance across the operating envelope
• Contribute to identification of system limitations and margins
• Evaluate thermal behaviour and heating capability
• Compare system and component level data
• Document your work and communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences

• Currently enrolled in, or recently completed, a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a closely related discipline
• Solid academic understanding of heat transfer and thermodynamics
• Solid understanding of fluid mechanics
• Solid understanding of basic propulsion principles
• Practical experience with lab work, integration, or hands-on prototyping
• Strong problem-solving, organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

• Familiarity with basic test instrumentation and data acquisition
• Exposure to thermal vacuum or environmental testing
• Exposure to propulsion systems (chemical or electric)
• Exposure to pressure systems or fluid handling
• Data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools
• Experience working with sensors (thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers)
• Experience writing technical reports or lab documentation

Dawn Aerospace is a space transportation company with a purpose. Our mission is to enable the next generation of space users by providing more sustainable and scalable ways to access and move around in space. We focus on two areas of space transportation: in-space propulsion and in-space servicing, and we are developing a refueling service to extend satellite life while pursuing sustainability goals.

We are a leading supplier of turnkey green propulsion systems for various classes of satellites and have over 170 propulsion units on more than 40 operational satellites, with a further 200 units in production. Our international teams are distributed across four locations: the Netherlands, France, New Zealand, and the USA.

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