Test Engineering Intern - Space Technologies

About the job

Worker Type

Supplemental Job Description

Test Engineering Intern - Space Technologies

Our paid Summer Internship Program is designed to provide students with an immersive, hands-on experience within the aerospace and defense industry. Interns work alongside AV team members on meaningful projects involving cutting-edge technology while developing professional relationships, strategic problem-solving skills, and practical experience in a full-time work environment.

This is a 12-week, onsite program intended for highly motivated and passionate students who are currently enrolled in college or are recent graduates. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, with a preference for students at the junior level or above.

Our program has been recognized by Yello and WayUp as one of the Top 100 Internship Programs in the United States for multiple years.

Depending on the team and location, students who are willing to relocate for their internship may be eligible for a relocation and housing reimbursement stipend.

Job Description

AV provides a full suite of space-qualified hardware trusted to operate in the extreme environments of GEO, MEO, LEO, and cislunar orbits. With hundreds of systems currently flying in space, AV delivers reliable solutions for missions where failure is not an option.

As a Test Engineer Intern within AV's Space Technologies organization, you will work alongside experienced electrical, systems, mechanical, firmware, software, and test engineers to support the development, integration, and verification of spacecraft hardware. You will gain hands-on experience designing and troubleshooting test setups, developing test automation, operating laboratory instrumentation, executing tests, and analyzing data for space-qualified electronics, sensors, and subsystems.

This internship provides an opportunity to apply your academic knowledge to real-world space systems while contributing to innovative capabilities in areas such as laser communications, space electronics, sensors, and advanced spacecraft technologies. You will be part of a dynamic team working to help deliver the next generation of high-reliability space solutions.

This is an exciting opportunity to apply your academic training in a high-tech, fast-paced environment while working alongside experienced engineers and mentors.

Essential Functions

·Assist in designing, integrating, and troubleshooting automated test equipment for spacecraft electrical systems, CCAs, embedded electronics, and subsystems.

·Develop and maintain test scripts, equipment-control software, data-acquisition tools, using Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or comparable software.

·Support the creation and execution of functional, performance, integration, qualification, acceptance, and environmental tests for spacecraft hardware.

·Build, modify, and verify electrical test setups, harnesses, fixtures, simulators, and interface test equipment.

·Use oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, electronic loads, logic analyzers, and data-acquisition equipment to troubleshoot and validate hardware.

·Assist with testing and troubleshooting spacecraft communication interfaces and protocols, including SPI, RS-422, LVDS, SpaceWire, or MIL-STD-1553.

·Support hardware bring-up, subsystem integration, test station calibration, configuration control, and hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop activities.

·Collaborate with electrical, systems, mechanical, software, manufacturing, quality, and operations teams in laboratory, cleanroom, and other controlled test environments

Basic Qualifications

·Entering senior year Fall of 2027

·Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.

·Coursework or project experience in circuits, electronics, embedded systems, controls, or programming.

·Basic programming or scripting experience with Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or a comparable language.

·Familiarity with electrical communication protocols such as SPI, RS-422, LVDS, SpaceWire, or MIL-STD-1553.

·Experience using laboratory test equipment, such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, electronic loads, or logic analyzers.

·Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and teamwork skills

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

·Hands-on experience building, testing, debugging, or modifying electronic hardware, CCAs, harnesses, fixtures, or test assemblies.

·Experience developing test automation scripts, equipment-control software, data-acquisition tools, or data-analysis utilities.

·Familiarity with automated test equipment, system test equipment, hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, or spacecraft subsystem integration.

·Experience with SpaceWire or MIL-STD-1553 interfaces, bus analyzers, protocol analyzers, simulators, or traffic-generation tools.

·Familiarity with Git, version control, issue tracking, configuration management, or software development practices.

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

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.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

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

U.S. Citizenship required