Aircraft Design Fellow (Summer 2027 Internship)

nTop • US NY HQ,

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The nTop Aircraft Design Fellowship is a 12-week summer 2027 internship for three engineering students at nTop’s New York City headquarters. Fellows will work in a cross-functional team to develop an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) from mission requirements through first flight, using nTop to design, analyze, and optimize the aircraft.

The project includes designing and optimizing the aircraft configuration, airframe, and components; constructing and assembling a prototype; and conducting flight testing. Fellows will also document the process to create an nTop learning course, develop marketing content, and co-author a research paper. The fellowship pays $20 per hour for 40 hours per week. Specific summer dates are flexible.

Applicants should identify which of three roles best matches their expertise: Configurator/Analysis Lead, Avionics/Controls Lead, or Design/Manufacturing Lead. Each role calls for current enrollment in a relevant engineering degree program and discipline-specific expertise.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering or equivalent for the Configurator/Analysis Lead role.
• Deep understanding of aircraft configuration design, trade studies, and sizing methodologies for the Configurator/Analysis Lead role.
• Proven ability to conduct aircraft performance analysis, such as range, endurance, takeoff, and landing analysis, for the Configurator/Analysis Lead role.
• Strong theoretical background in aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics principles for the Configurator/Analysis Lead role.
• Experience with stability and control analysis for fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft for the Configurator/Analysis Lead role.
• Familiarity with air vehicle mass properties and balance calculations for the Configurator/Analysis Lead role.
• Proficiency with relevant analysis software, such as MATLAB/Simulink, XFLR5, or other industry tools, for the Configurator/Analysis Lead role.
• Experience translating mission requirements into a viable preliminary aircraft design for the Configurator/Analysis Lead role.
• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent for the Avionics/Controls Lead role.
• Demonstrated experience building and integrating mechatronic systems, such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, or UAS, for the Avionics/Controls Lead role.
• Experience specifying UAS components, including motors, servos, batteries, and flight controllers, for the Avionics/Controls Lead role.
• Proficiency programming microcontrollers and/or flight management systems, such as ArduPilot, PX4, or similar open-source platforms, for the Avionics/Controls Lead role.
• Strong understanding of control systems theory and implementation, such as PID loop tuning, for the Avionics/Controls Lead role.
• Hands-on experience with soldering, wiring harnesses, and electrical layout for compact systems for the Avionics/Controls Lead role.
• Familiarity with common communication protocols, such as I2C, SPI, and CAN, for the Avionics/Controls Lead role.
• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or equivalent for the Design/Manufacturing Lead role.
• Extensive, proven experience in Design for Additive Manufacturing, including topology optimization, lattice generation, and part consolidation, for the Design/Manufacturing Lead role.
• Proficiency in detailed mechanical design and creating engineering drawings for the Design/Manufacturing Lead role.
• Strong understanding of material properties, especially polymers and composites relevant to airframe construction, for the Design/Manufacturing Lead role.
• Hands-on experience with additive manufacturing (3D printing) processes such as FDM, SLS, or SLA, and post-processing techniques, for the Design/Manufacturing Lead role.
• Experience with structural analysis and designing components to meet specific load cases for the Design/Manufacturing Lead role.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with traditional manufacturing methods, such as composite layup or machining, for the Design/Manufacturing Lead role.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize a novel UAS configuration, airframe, and component structure using nTop, tailored to mission goals.
• Build, assemble, and flight-test a physical aircraft prototype.
• Document the project process to create a comprehensive nTop learning course.
• Generate marketing content and co-author a publishable research paper.
• For the Configurator/Analysis Lead: define the aircraft’s outer mold line and address performance, stability, and control requirements.
• For the Avionics/Controls Lead: specify, integrate, and program electronic components and flight control systems.
• For the Design/Manufacturing Lead: translate the outer mold line into a detailed, manufacturable airframe, focusing on structural integrity and design for additive manufacturing.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed