Production Engineering Intern

AeroVironment•Simi Valley, CA

9d•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 a Product Engineering Intern at AV, you will support engineering teams in the design, development, testing, and launch of innovative products and systems. Working closely with project engineers, technical leads, and project managers, you’ll gain hands-on experience across the product lifecycle—from concept and prototype to integration, troubleshooting, and verification. This internship provides an opportunity to learn best practices in systems engineering, project coordination, and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
Strong academic foundation in engineering fundamentals, physics, and mathematics.
Interest in the product development lifecycle—from concept through production.
Basic understanding of design principles, testing methods, and project coordination.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and familiar with data or project management tools.
Excellent communication, organization, and team collaboration skills.
Demonstrated eagerness to learn and take initiative in a technical environment.
Minimum 3.0 GPA.
Must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR and EAR regulations.
Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to systems engineering or configuration management concepts.
Familiarity with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo) or simulation software.
Understanding of Lean or Six Sigma principles.
Interest in aerospace or defense product development environments.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Students at the junior level or above.

Responsibilities

Assist in improving product development processes by applying lessons learned and best practices such as modeling and simulation, design reviews, DFMEA, and lean product development methods.
Support cross-discipline teams through meetings, documentation, and progress tracking to help ensure projects are completed on schedule.
Participate in subsystem design, characterization, and performance evaluations under guidance of senior engineers.
Assist in prototype builds and work with suppliers, contractors, and third-party engineering service providers.
Help track and manage engineering tasks, schedules, and issues using established project management tools.
Participate in design and technical review meetings to observe decision-making and problem-solving processes.
Support documentation development, data collection, and test result analysis.
Learn and help implement tools and templates that promote project engineering excellence.
Apply company policies and standard procedures while developing professional engineering skills.
Perform other duties and engineering support tasks as assigned by mentors or supervisors.