Summer 2026 System Test Engineering Intern

Worker Type

Supplemental

Job Description

Our Summer Internship Program is meticulously designed to provide students with an immersive and dynamic experience within our industry, offering a taste of what it's like to be part of our professional team. We strive to simulate a full-time job, enabling our interns to work hands-on with cutting-edge technology, contribute to meaningful projects, build strong relationships with coworkers, and develop strategic problem-solving skills. Our program is highly selective, hosting only a handful of interns each year, ensuring personalized attention and ample opportunities to work closely with AV team members.

We are hiring for various roles and locations throughout the U.S. During the interview process, we will discuss specific details regarding the team and location.

The Test Equipment Engineering Intern assists in the design, development, and implementation of cost-effective methods for testing and troubleshooting systems and equipment throughout various phases of product development and manufacturing. In this role, the intern supports the integration and testing of unmanned aircraft systems and payloads.

Position Responsibilities

• Assist in the design, development, deployment, troubleshooting, and upgrading of test equipment used for testing PCBAs, sub-systems, and AV systems during production.
• Support the design and development of C# / OOP software using the Visual Studio IDE.
• Assist in developing test software programs in C#.
• Collaborate with team members to develop test plans, gather requirements/specifications, and create test strategies.
• Analyze, process, and format test results following standard practices and procedures.
• Work toward meeting project deliverables and timelines in a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Support cross-functional teams across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Provide feedback to product design teams regarding design testability.
• Assist in developing test cases for power conversion devices, motor control systems, and avionics components from early design stages through final testing.
• Execute functional and performance tests on avionics power and propulsion components under supervision.
• Learn and apply professional engineering concepts and AV procedures to resolve routine issues.
• Work on problems of limited scope while receiving detailed instructions and mentorship.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Currently pursuing a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 0-2 years of relevant academic or project experience in test development, lab environments, or manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with writing bug reports and root-cause analysis (academic or project-based experience acceptable).
• Exposure to Object-Oriented Programming (C# or LabVIEW experience a plus).
• Basic understanding of debugging and troubleshooting processes.
• Ability to estimate cost or development time based on project requirements (coursework or project experience acceptable).
• General knowledge of mechanical/electrical design principles, material properties, and test instrumentation.
• Basic understanding of writing and executing test specifications.
• Awareness of manual and automated testing methodologies across product development stages.

Other Preferred Qualifications

• Interest or experience in Radio Frequency (RF), automation, production testing, or general test engineering.
• Strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and communication skills.
• Ability to follow detailed instructions and work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and willingness to learn.
• Commitment to teamwork and supporting shared goals.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods.
• Ability to talk, hear, and use hands for computer and equipment operation.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. and carry objects of varying sizes (occasional).

Clearance Level

Clearance Level

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment's determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment's business requirements. A "U.S. person" according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we've been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world's most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty - and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company's hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR