Mechanical Engineer (Spring 2027 Co-op)

Reframesystems

Andover, MA

Career-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Best suited to hands-on mechanical engineering students with CAD proficiency working in a robotics and factory automation environment.

Best fit for

Students with a strong interest in factory automation and robotics integration
— “Learn the full stack: Get exposure to how mechanical design connects to robotics, automation, and factory operations in a live manufacturing environment.”
Individuals who enjoy building and testing physical prototypes in a shop setting
— “You'll spend real time in the shop — cutting, welding, printing, and machining your own parts — not just handing drawings off to someone else.”

Things to consider

Availability for a full-time, semester-length co-op in Billerica, MA is a strict requirement.
— “Available for a full-time, semester-length co-op in Billerica, MA this fall.”
The role demands a candidate who can rotate across projects and adapt quickly to new contexts.
— “Work across multiple active workstreams on the ME team rather than a single fixed project, picking up context quickly and contributing wherever the team needs hands and ideas.”

How to stand out

Highlight experience with CAD tools and rapid prototyping in your resume and interview responses.
— “Solid CAD skills (Onshape, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar) and the ability to go from a rough idea to a modeled part quickly.”
Emphasize hands-on fabrication experience with shop tools like mills, lathes, and welders.
— “Fabricate and assemble your own prototypes and production hardware using mills, lathes, laser cutters, welders, 3D printers, and standard shop tools.”
Showcase your ability to iterate and adapt based on physical testing and feedback.
— “Iterate toward a production-ready result.”
Demonstrate your capacity to work with multiple engineers and take direction across rotating projects.
— “Strong communicator who works well within a team and can take direction from multiple engineers across rotating projects.”

Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · IndividualLevel · Intern

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

Designed and iterated on mechanical design problems across FAB1 projects
Fabricated and assembled prototypes and production hardware
Supported documentation for mechanical designs

Typical background

Currently pursuing a BS in Mechanical Engineering or a related field

Skills & requirements

Required

CADMechanical EngineeringRoboticsAutomationFactory Operations

Preferred

TerraformOpenaiAWS Bedrock

Stack & domain

CADOnshapeSolidworksFusion 360MillsLathesLaser CuttersWelders3D PrintersShop ToolsTeamworkCommunicationMechanical EngineeringRoboticsFactory OperationsSoftwareField Delivery

About the role

Original posting from Reframesystems via Ashby

About Us
Reframe Systems is a Physical AI and robotics company on a mission to make high-performance housing attainable and abundant in the communities where people want to live. Through our vertically integrated delivery model and highly automated microfactories, we deliver climate-resilient homes and buildings with greater speed and predictability than traditional construction.
Our volumetric modular buildings are produced in our Andover, MA microfactory, with a growing pipeline across North America and a new microfactory on the way. We are building a system that balances repeatability with site-responsive design, enabling homes adaptable to each site, community, and customer need. Our cross-disciplinary team brings together architecture, robotics, design engineering, software, factory operations, and field delivery to change how housing gets delivered.
We're reimagining the future of housing through a smarter and more sustainable system that empowers people to live better. Come build it with us.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for a Mechanical Engineering Co-op to join our team at FAB1, our first full-scale microfactory in Billerica, MA, this fall. This role is built for someone who loves the full loop of engineering: sketch it, model it, build it, test it, and fix it — fast. You'll rotate across active projects on our Mechanical Engineering team, working alongside engineers designing the workcells, fixturing, and production infrastructure that make our factory run.
This is a hands-on role. You'll spend real time in the shop — cutting, welding, printing, and machining your own parts — not just handing drawings off to someone else. We move quickly here, so we need someone who can take a rough idea, iterate on it in CAD, get a physical version in hand, and improve it based on what they learn, on a tight timeline.
What You'll Do
Design and Iterate Fast: Take on real mechanical design problems across FAB1 projects — fixtures, workstations, material handling, tooling — and move quickly from concept to CAD to working prototype.
Build What You Design: Fabricate and assemble your own prototypes and production hardware using mills, lathes, laser cutters, welders, 3D printers, and standard shop tools.
Rotate Across Projects: Work across multiple active workstreams on the ME team rather than a single fixed project, picking up context quickly and contributing wherever the team needs hands and ideas.
Test and Improve: Validate your designs on the shop floor, troubleshoot what doesn't work, and iterate toward a production-ready result.
Support Documentation: Produce clear CAD models and basic technical drawings that a teammate or vendor could build from.
Learn the Full Stack: Get exposure to how mechanical design connects to robotics, automation, and factory operations in a live manufacturing environment.
Qualifications
Currently pursuing a BS in Mechanical Engineering or a related field; junior or senior standing preferred.
Solid CAD skills (Onshape, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar) and the ability to go from a rough idea to a modeled part quickly.
Comfortable and safe operating shop tools and equipment — mills, lathes, laser cutters, welding, 3D printing, hand and power tools.
A fast learner who can pick up new tools, processes, and project context with minimal ramp-up.
Bias toward action: you'd rather build a rough prototype and learn from it than perfect a design on paper.
Strong communicator who works well within a team and can take direction from multiple engineers across rotating projects.
Available for a full-time, semester-length co-op in Billerica, MA this fall.
Nice to Have
Prior shop, machine design, or robotics club/competition experience (FSAE, FRC, Baja SAE, etc.).
Experience with sheet metal, weldments, or basic structural design.
Exposure to manufacturing, construction, or factory automation environments.
Familiarity with GD&T fundamentals.

Source: Reframesystems careers (Ashby)