GNC / Autonomy Engineering Intern

AeroVironment • Simi Valley, CA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

AeroVironment is hiring a GNC / Autonomy Engineering Intern for its 12-week, paid Summer Internship Program. This onsite position is based at the Simi Valley, California office and supports the Small Unmanned Systems team. The intern will contribute to projects involving Guidance, Navigation & Control (GN&C), flight testing, software, and hardware development, gaining practical exposure to flight control systems, testing procedures, and system integration in a fast-paced R&D environment. Work is performed under the guidance of experienced engineers.

The program is intended for motivated students currently enrolled in college or recent graduates. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA; students at the junior level or above are preferred. Depending on the team and location, interns willing to relocate may be eligible for a relocation and housing reimbursement stipend. The role requires eligibility to work in the U.S. and may require domestic travel of up to 10–20%. The position requires access to ITAR/EAR-controlled information, so applicants must qualify as a U.S. person or be eligible for an export license. Some positions may require current U.S. citizenship due to contract requirements.

AV offers medical, dental, and vision benefits, a 401(k) with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule, and a paid holiday shutdown. The internship is intended to provide practical experience and skill development in aerospace engineering, particularly GN&C, and to build understanding of how flight systems are developed, tested, and integrated in real-world applications.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Completed coursework in one or more of GN&C, flight dynamics, control systems, embedded systems, or robotics.
• Strong interest in aircraft systems, GN&C, and aerospace engineering.
• Effective communication skills and a collaborative attitude.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S. and willing to travel domestically up to 10–20%, if needed.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR/EAR requirements or be eligible for an export license; some positions may require current U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

• Preference for students at the junior level or above.
• Basic proficiency in MATLAB, Simulink, or similar modeling tools.
• Familiarity with embedded programming, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, or flight software development.
• Hands-on project or lab experience involving control systems or autonomous vehicles, such as drones or robotics projects.
• Enthusiasm for learning and contributing to real-world aerospace projects.
• Ability to adapt in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
• Willingness to relocate; eligible interns may receive a relocation and housing reimbursement stipend, depending on team and location.

Responsibilities

• Assist in designing and developing GN&C systems for current and future aircraft projects.
• Support system testing, including simulation environments such as SIL/HIL, and basic flight-test preparations.
• Help implement and test basic flight-control algorithms under supervision.
• Participate in subsystem integration and data-analysis activities.
• Support engineering documentation and report writing.
• Collaborate with engineering and test teams to troubleshoot and validate technical solutions.
• Learn and apply engineering processes and tools relevant to flight systems.
• Perform other duties or learning assignments as needed.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company matching
• 9/80 work schedule
• Paid holiday shutdown
• Potential relocation and housing reimbursement stipend for eligible interns, depending on team and location

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern