Paid Internship at Valor Tactical Innovation LLC – Grand Junction, Colorado

Company Overview

Valor Tactical Innovation is a manufacturing company that designs and produces highly engineered mechanical and energetic devices used by the U.S. military, law enforcement agencies, and allied partners. The company specializes in precision manufacturing, weapon system components, cartridge-actuated devices, and ballistic testing solutions. Its advanced manufacturing facility includes CNC machining, welding, electroplating, explosives manufacturing, and testing laboratories supporting high-reliability defense products.

Core Values

Valor Tactical Innovation places great importance on values such as integrity, respect, accountability, customer care, and continuous improvement. Upholding these values is crucial for fulfilling our mission and meeting the precise needs of our customers. These principles serve as the foundational core of our company, and we expect our employees to embody them in their actions.

• Integrity: We always do the right thing.
• Respect: Speak the way you want to be spoken to. Listen the way you want to be listened to.
• Accountability: It is our responsibility to take action, ask questions, seek answers, and deliver.
• Customer Care: We value our customers. We listen and serve because they matter.
• Continuous Improvement: We will work to be better today than we were yesterday.

Program and Position Overview

The Valor Tactical Innovation Internship Program is an immersive 8-week experience designed to provide students with hands-on exposure to the defense manufacturing industry. Through hands on experience, Interns gain practical knowledge of engineering, production operations, quality assurance, safety compliance, and business functions while supporting projects that contribute to the company’s mission of delivering reliable solutions for the U.S. warfighter.

This position requires use of information and data which is subject to US Export Regulations, including but not limited to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. 120 et seq., and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), 15 C.F.R. 730 et seq. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S Government.

Interns will rotate weekly through multiple departments to develop a comprehensive understanding of advanced manufacturing, regulated production environments, and cross-functional collaboration in a federal contractor setting.

Program and Learning Objectives

The internship program is designed to help participants:

• Gain exposure to advanced manufacturing and defense industry operations
• Understand the lifecycle of engineered products from design to production
• Learn safety, compliance, and security requirements in a regulated facility
• Develop professional communication and project management skills
• Contribute to real-world projects that support operational goals
• Develop confidence and enrichment through professional guidance, career advice, and support throughout the program.

Essential Responsibilities

• Assist engineering, production, quality, or business teams with assigned projects and daily operational tasks.
• Support manufacturing processes including documentation, process observation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participate in data collection, analysis, and reporting for production or quality metrics.
• Assist with testing, inspection, and documentation of components in accordance with quality standards.
• Help maintain organized records and documentation systems in accordance with company procedures.
• Participate in cross-departmental meetings and learn about defense manufacturing processes and compliance requirements.
• Support research, technical documentation, and project coordination as needed.
• Follow all safety, security, and operational procedures required for work in a regulated manufacturing environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college or technical program in a related field such as Engineering or Business, regardless of Major/Concentration/Emphasis.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Card Holder
• Must pass initial and subsequent background checks
• Must pass preemployment and subsequent drug and alcohol screenings
• Must comply with internal non-disclosure agreement requirements
• Ability to speak, read, write, and comprehend the English language
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Basic math skills (addition, subtraction, and decimals)

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Interns work in both office and manufacturing environments within a regulated production facility. Activities may include exposure to manufacturing equipment, testing labs, and engineering workspaces, and on administrative support teams while adhering to strict safety and security procedures.

This internship provides valuable exposure to the manufacturing industry, including lean methodology, and offers opportunities to build professional skills, contribute to real projects, and work alongside experienced engineers and professionals supporting mission-critical programs.

• RARE (less than 10%): crawling, climbing.
• OCCASIONAL (up to 33%): standing, stooping, kneeling, squatting, body-twisting, sense of touch, manual dexterity, lifting over 10 lbs. to 50 lbs., reaching, range-of-motion, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing ladders, climbing stairs, balancing, lifting up to 50 lbs..
• FREQUENT (up to 66%): walking, sitting, climbing on/off truck, reading, lifting up to 10 lbs, gripping.
• CONTINUOUS (up to 100%): speaking clearly, seeing distant, seeing, hearing-speech-range, depth-perception, color vision.
• VISION: Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Near vision includes clarity of vision at approximately 20 inches or less to work with small objects or read small/fine print, including use of computers.

Applications welcome through April 30, 2026. Compensation for successful intern candidates includes $15.50 per hour and potential to earn academic credit. The role is non-exempt and not eligible for benefits.

Schedule: This Internship is 40 hours per week for nine weeks, commencing May 26, 2026, through July 23, 2026. Interns will need to be onsite Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Successful candidates must be committed to this schedule.