Material & Processes Engineering Intern

Canopy A&D • Littleton, CO

4d • $25 - $25

About The Position

Canopy Technologies is seeking exceptional engineering and materials science students to join our team as Materials & Processes Engineering Interns for Summer 2026. In this role, you will help develop next-generation thermal protection materials for spacecraft and hypersonic vehicles. These systems must survive extreme environments including re-entry heating, plasma exposure, and high mechanical loads.
Interns on the materials team contribute directly to the design, formulation, and testing of new material systems, including polymer-derived ceramics, advanced composite substrates, and high-temperature resin systems. You will work alongside engineers and scientists to prototype new TPS materials from first principles — mixing formulations, fabricating samples, and evaluating their performance in laboratory and high-temperature test environments.
This role is ideal for students who enjoy combining chemistry, materials science, and hands-on experimentation to develop materials that push the limits of aerospace performance.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Chemistry, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• Experience applying engineering skills outside the classroom through laboratory work, research, engineering project teams, or personal projects
• Strong foundation in materials science, chemistry, or polymer science
• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar scientific computing languages
• Experience with laboratory experimentation or materials characterization through coursework, research, or project work
• Strong professional communication and technical writing skills
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative R&D environment

Nice To Haves

• Coursework or research experience involving polymers, composites, or ceramic materials
• Experience with polymer formulation, resin systems, or composite processing
• Familiarity with characterization techniques such as TGA, DSC, DMA, SEM, or thermal conductivity measurement
• Experience working with laboratory equipment and experimental test methods
• Exposure to high-temperature materials or aerospace materials systems
• Participation in research labs, materials-focused project teams, or internships

Responsibilities

• Assist with the design and formulation of new thermal protection materials, including polymer-derived ceramics and composite substrates
• Prepare and process experimental material formulations using custom resin systems and fillers
• Fabricate composite and polymer samples using techniques such as casting, layup, curing, and infiltration
• Characterize material properties including thermal conductivity, density, mechanical properties, and thermal stability
• Assist with high-temperature testing of materials in laboratory or simulated aerothermal environments
• Analyze experimental results to inform material design and processing parameters
• Document material formulations, processing methods, and test results
• Support scale-up and manufacturing development efforts for promising material systems
• Collaborate with aerothermal, structural, and manufacturing teams to integrate materials into TPS designs

Benefits

• Company paid employee medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Retirement plan participation (eligibility required), paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid holidays and discretionary bonuses.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern