Intern, Sustaining Engineer
Onsite Requirement:
This is a full‑time internship requiring regular on-site presence in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Remote or hybrid work is not available for this role.
About Acron Aviation (Avionics – Recorders):
Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety‑critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Within Avionics, the Recorders product line develops and sustains flight data and cockpit voice recording systems used worldwide to support regulatory compliance, operational insight, and aviation safety. This work is performed in highly regulated environments with a strong emphasis on quality, traceability, and disciplined engineering practices.
Position Summary
Acron Aviation is seeking a Sustaining Engineer Intern to join the Recorders Engineering team in Grand Rapids, MI. This role supports the ongoing lifecycle management of released hardware by assisting with updates to mechanical designs, drawings, and technical documentation.
The intern will focus on sustaining and improving existing products, including structural components, housings and enclosures, and PCB/CCA documentation. The role also involves researching and documenting historical design decisions to strengthen design traceability and support continued manufacturability, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
Essential Functions
• Update and maintain mechanical drawings, CAD models, and associated documentation to reflect approved engineering changes and as‑built configurations
• Support sustaining engineering efforts related to mechanical housings, enclosures, brackets, and structural components
• Assist with development, refinement, and documentation of housings and enclosures, including fit, form, function, and electrical interfaces
• Support analysis, documentation, and updates related to vacuum‑jacketed designs, including insulation concepts, materials, and manufacturing methods
• Revise and maintain mechanical BOMs, specifications, and drawings for released production hardware
• Research historical design decisions for mechanical assemblies, PCB packaging, and production materials by reviewing engineering change records, specifications, test reports, and legacy documentation
• Document mechanical design rationale, constraints, and assumptions to improve long‑term product knowledge and supportability
• Assist in organizing, cleaning up, and standardizing mechanical engineering documentation within configuration and document control systems
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and test engineers to clarify design intent and resolve documentation gaps
• Provide general support to sustaining engineering activities, including production support and continuous improvement initiatives, as needed
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline
• Experience with 3D CAD and drafting tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar)
• Familiarity with mechanical drawings, GD&T fundamentals, and tolerance analysis
• Exposure to enclosure or housing design, including sheet metal, machined parts, and structural assemblies
• Basic understanding of thermal considerations, insulation concepts, or vacuum‑jacketed designs is a plus
• Ability to research and synthesize technical information from drawings, specifications, and engineering change data
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document technical findings accurately and concisely
Equal Opportunity Statement
Acron Aviation is proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity and to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Additional Information:
Acron Aviation maintains a drug‑free workplace and conducts pre‑employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where allowed by law. Acron Aviation is an E‑Verify employer.