Mechanical Engineer Intern

Team Description:

The Next Gen team at Neuralink is developing the next generation of brain-computer interfaces. We are laying the groundwork for intuitive, high-dimensional, and bidirectional interfaces between brains and machines, with the goal of helping people challenged by a variety of neurological disorders and conditions. Our team consists of scientists and engineers, working closely together to define the engineering requirements for these future products. As a Mechanical engineering Intern on this team you will contribute across a wide range of projects, from designing novel benchtop experiment setups to test the next generation of implants. Successful candidates will be highly adaptable, able to deploy their core technical and creative skills to tackle a wide range of problems, and have a keen sense of urgency.

Job Description and Responsibilities:

As a Mechanical Engineering Intern, you will design and build versatile benchtop test setups for evaluating next-generation brain-computer interface (BCI) implants. These setups will enable rapid algorithm iteration and system level validation. You will collaborate closely with the Next-Gen team to define requirements and implement best practices for scalable, reusable test hardware. Specifically, you will:

• Design and build custom benchtop fixtures and electrical/mechanical assemblies to test implant prototypes and related hardware
• Develop setups that mimic neural environments, including spiking-activity emulators, saline or tissue-like baths, and controlled noise sources to replicate in-vivo signal conditions
• Establish and document SOPs for assembly, calibration, and routine testing to ensure repeatability and reliability
• Integrate electrical and mechanical components to support algorithm development, automated data collection, and noise characterization
• Collaborate across disciplines to translate experimental needs into robust solutions
• Iterate and generalize test platforms for future implant designs and evolving experimental requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field 6+ months of relevant academic coursework or project experience
• 9+ months of experience applying technical skills outside the classroom (e.g., personal projects, prior internships, or work experience)
• 1+ years of mechanical design experience
• Strong understanding of engineering first principles
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1+ years of mechanical engineering industry experience, including owning products from concept to production
• Familiarity with machining and rapid prototyping technologies
• Experience with electrical engineering, data acquisition modules