Summer 2027 Embedded Software Engineering Intern

AeroVironment • Dayton, OH

6d • Onsite

About The Position

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. AV offers internship opportunities across various teams and locations throughout the United States. Specific team, location, and program details will be discussed during the interview process. As an Embedded Software Engineering Intern, you will work alongside experienced engineers to design, develop, and test embedded software for unmanned aerial and robotic systems. You’ll gain hands-on experience in real-world development, writing software that runs on microcontrollers, processors, and other hardware used in flight systems, sensors, and payloads. You’ll contribute to projects at various stages of the development lifecycle — from prototyping and integration to testing and validation — while learning industry best practices in embedded software development.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Basic knowledge of embedded systems and microcontrollers.
• Familiarity with programming languages such as C, C++, or Python.
• Understanding of low-level software concepts, such as memory management, interrupts, or device drivers.
• Exposure to hardware communication protocols like I2C, SPI, UART, or CAN.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual such as a refugee, or asylee) due to ITAR/EAR compliance.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience with microcontroller platforms (e.g., STM32, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or similar).
• Familiarity with RTOS environments (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr).
• Exposure to Linux-based development or embedded Linux environments.
• Experience with lab equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters).
• Interest in aerospace, robotics, or autonomous systems.
• Initiative, curiosity, and a passion for learning and innovation.
• Preference for students at the junior level or above.

Responsibilities

• Assist in writing and testing embedded software for systems such as autopilots, sensors, radios, and other onboard components.
• Help implement software in C/C++ for real-time and bare-metal systems using microcontrollers and embedded platforms.
• Support the integration of embedded software with hardware, including debugging with lab tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including electrical, systems, and mechanical engineers, to ensure cohesive development.
• Participate in peer reviews, software documentation, and configuration management processes.
• Contribute to lab testing and field testing of embedded systems in support of real-world mission scenarios.
• Assist in the development of prototypes and proof-of-concept demonstrations.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401k with company matching
• 9/80 work schedule
• Paid holiday shutdown
• Relocation and housing reimbursement stipend (for eligible students willing to relocate)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree