About the Role - Mechanical Engineering Intern (Structural Design & Simulation)
Build the physical backbone of autonomous systems that have to perform under pressure. RheinForge Systems offers the chance to work on real, field-deployable defence hardware at a stage where your design decisions carry directly onto the airframe.
About Rheinforge Systems
RheinForge Systems is a defence-technology company engineering autonomous tactical UAV and UUV platforms for some of the most demanding operational environments - defence forces, critical-infrastructure operators, and border-security applications. As drone warfare and counter-UAS reshape the modern battlefield, we build the airframes, mechanical systems, and autonomy stack that have to work when it matters most.
Our portfolio spans VTOL tactical UAVs, FPV strike drones, Interceptors - unified by a common autonomy software stack. We operate at the intersection of precision hardware, advanced simulation, and mission-critical autonomy, and we're part of India's broader push toward indigenous, self-reliant defence capability.
This is an early-stage, high-ownership environment. You won't be handed busywork - you'll be handed primary structures that fly, and the responsibility to get them right. The role is based at our Ahmedabad office.
Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations
- Design and develop precision mechanical components, assemblies, and integration mechanisms for our UAV platforms using industry-standard CAD (SolidWorks / Siemens NX / CATIA), from concept through to production-ready detail.
- Perform static, modal, harmonic, fatigue, buckling, and transient structural analyses using ANSYS Mechanical or equivalent, validating airframes and subsystems under real operational loading conditions.
- Drive structural performance through topology optimisation, weight reduction, material selection, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) - without compromising reliability, modularity, or mission readiness.
- Integrate propulsion, avionics, payload, landing gear, and structural subsystems into the platform while protecting manufacturability, serviceability, and structural integrity.
- Support fabrication, assembly, and Design Verification Testing (DVT), correlating simulation against experimental data and iterating designs on test outcomes.
- Produce detailed engineering drawings, GD&T-compliant manufacturing documentation, tolerance analyses, and technical reports to support production and design reviews.
Qualifications, Experience and Skills
- Solid grounding in mechanics of materials, machine design, structural dynamics, vibration, and fatigue.
- Hands-on proficiency with CAD software such as SolidWorks, Siemens NX, CATIA, or Creo.
- FEA experience with ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, or equivalent simulation tools.
- The ability to translate simulation results into concrete, defensible design decisions.
- A demonstrated portfolio of mechanical design or structural engineering work - coursework projects, competition builds, or prototype validation.
Skills That Set You Apart
- Familiarity with composite structures, UAV airframes, and lightweight aerospace design.
- Hands-on experience with prototype fabrication, machining, 3D printing, or laboratory testing.
- Exposure to aerospace manufacturing techniques and DFM for low-volume, high-reliability hardware.
- An understanding of how structural decisions interact with flight dynamics, propulsion, and payload constraints.
Location: Hybrid - Ahmedabad, Gujarat
To Apply: Submit your resume alongside a technical portfolio (CAD models, engineering drawings, FEA reports, design projects, competition work, or prototype validation evidence) to [email protected], or apply directly through the listing below. Applications without a demonstrated mechanical design or structural engineering portfolio will not be considered.
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