LiquidPiston · 2 hours ago
Skunkworks Engineer Internship - Summer 2026
Bloomfield, CT
Internship
Onsite
Intern
Start in 2026 SummerLiquidPiston is an innovative propulsion technology company reinventing the internal combustion engine through its patented X-Engine architecture. The Skunkworks Engineer Internship offers hands-on experience in designing and testing novel rotary engine concepts alongside senior engineers in a fast-paced, high-autonomy environment.
Industrial EngineeringManufacturingMechanical Engineering
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Design, assemble, and test rapid prototypes of novel X-Engine sub-systems, combustors, seals, or hybrid integration components
Perform hands-on fabrication using in-house machine shop, additive manufacturing (metal + polymer), and advanced assembly techniques
Run experiments on single-cylinder research engines, modified multi-cylinder demonstrators, or subscale Skunkworks test articles
Collect and analyze high-speed data (pressure traces, high-speed video, emissions, vibration) to validate bold design choices
Iterate designs weekly — CAD → print/machine → test → learn → repeat
Support classified / customer-funded fast-track projects (U.S. citizenship or permanent residency often required for certain tasks)
Collaborate across mechanical, thermal, combustion, controls, and materials boundaries
Document key findings in concise memos / one-pagers to influence long-term architecture decisions
Qualification
Required
Pursuing B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field (rising junior or above preferred)
Demonstrated hands-on prototyping experience (Formula SAE, personal projects, research labs, rocketry, robotics, etc.)
Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar)
Comfortable in a machine shop / hands-on lab environment (mill, lathe, 3D printing, basic welding helpful but not required)
U.S. person status (citizen or permanent resident) — many Skunkworks activities involve defense-related hardware
High tolerance for ambiguity + bias toward action
Preferred
Prior work with internal combustion engines, rotaries, or high-performance power systems
Exposure to additive manufacturing (especially metal DMLS / binder jetting)
Combustion, thermodynamics, or high-speed data acquisition experience
Experience with rapid controls prototyping (dSPACE, Speedgoat, Arduino/RPi for quick closed-loop demos)
Aerospace/defense project background (UAVs, hybrid propulsion, DARPA-style challenges)
Personal projects involving extreme environments, fuels, or unconventional engines
Company
LiquidPiston
LiquidPiston develops advanced internal combustion engines through its patented thermodynamic cycle and engine technologies.
Founded in 2003
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$25.97MKey Investors
Adams Capital Management
2021-10-01Equity Crowdfunding
2020-11-01Series Unknown
2020-01-12Equity Crowdfunding· $1.07M
Leadership Team
Nikolay Shkolnik
Co-Founder & Principal
Vincenzo Perrone
VP of Engineering
Recent News
LiquidPiston
2025-10-29
Company data provided by crunchbase