Engine Modeling/Control Intern

Archer • San Jose, CA

3d • $25 - $35 • Onsite

About The Position

Archer is an aerospace company based in San Jose, California building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a mission to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. We are designing, manufacturing, and operating an all-electric aircraft that can carry four passengers while producing minimal noise. Our sights are set high and our problems are hard, and we believe that diversity in the workplace is what makes us smarter, drives better insights, and will ultimately lift us all to success. We are dedicated to cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment that embraces our differences, and supports and celebrates all of our team members. This internship is a part of a 10-week full-time summer internship program opportunity. This role will be based at Archer’s headquarters in San Jose, California and relocation or housing will not be provided. Archer is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented intern to join our motor control and simulation team. This internship provides a hands-on opportunity to gain practical experience in the design, control, and validation of the core components of our aircraft's electric powertrain. You will play a crucial role in the development cycle, contributing directly to the high-performance motor system and power converters that make electric flight possible and pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology. The ideal intern candidates should have a clear strength in at least one of the following areas: power electronics, motor control, or motor design. Above all, they must be curious, analytical, and eager to learn in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

• Pursuing a Bachelor's (3rd or 4th year), Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Strong fundamentals and coursework in Power Electronics, electric machine theory (including electromagnetic principles and motor topologies like IPM/SPM), and control systems.
• Simulation experience with PLECS and/or MATLAB/Simulink for modeling and simulating motor control systems or power converters.
• Exposure to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software such as ANSYS Maxwell, FEMM, or a similar package for electromagnetic simulation.
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, and electronic loads for testing power electronics.
• Familiarity with motor control techniques such as Field-Oriented Control (FOC) and Space Vector Modulation (SVM).
• Excellent problem-solving skills, a strong theoretical foundation, and a desire to learn in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with scripting (Python/MATLAB for data analysis), embedded C/C++

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine motor control algorithms in MATLAB/Simulink or PLECS to optimize the performance, efficiency, and thermal characteristics of our high-power-density motors.
• Create and analyze simulation models of high-voltage DC/DC converters and motor inverters to predict their behavior, stability, and efficiency under various flight conditions.
• Assist in the electromagnetic and thermal analysis of electric motors using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, contributing to the analysis of torque ripple, cogging torque, and loss mechanisms.
• Contribute to motor design trade studies, evaluating the impact of different topologies, materials, and winding configurations on performance metrics like power density and efficiency.
• Support the assembly, bring-up, and testing of prototype motor drive and power electronics hardware in the lab, gaining hands-on experience with high-power systems.
• Develop test scripts and analyze experimental data from dynamometer and bench tests to validate simulation models and characterize component performance.
• Correlate motor simulation models with experimental data from dynamometer testing to improve model accuracy and validate design choices.
• Document your simulation results, test procedures, and design analysis in detailed reports and present your findings to the team to inform critical design decisions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees