Software Engineering Intern, UX/UI 2027

Allen Control Systems•Austin, TX

12d•Onsite

About The Position

ACS is a defense technology company building precision robotic systems. Our interns aren't fetching coffee or shadowing — they're working alongside the same engineers and product teams building the systems we ship. As a UI/UX Intern, you'll help design and improve the interfaces that connect people with real-time technology, from mobile and embedded applications to internal tools used by our engineering and operations teams. This is early-career work with real stakes. You'll work closely with engineers, product managers, and other designers to turn complex technical systems into interfaces that are intuitive, responsive, and built for the people who use them.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a degree in UX/UI Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
Coursework, project, or internship experience in UI/UX design, interaction design, product design, or front-end/mobile development.
A portfolio or examples of work demonstrating your approach to solving user problems through design. This can include class projects, personal projects, apps, prototypes, or previous internships.
Familiarity with design and prototyping tools such as Figma or similar software.
An interest in designing interfaces for technical, real-time, or complex systems.
Strong attention to detail and an instinct for creating simple, intuitive user experiences.
Curiosity about how software is built and a willingness to work closely with engineers.
Basic understanding of software development concepts and how UI connects to application logic.
A builder's mindset: you'd rather create something, get feedback, and iterate than wait for a perfect spec.
Strong communication skills and the ability to explain the thinking behind your design decisions.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing interfaces for mobile, tablet, embedded, or real-time applications.
Experience with Android, Jetpack Compose, Kotlin, or other mobile development technologies.
Experience creating interactive prototypes or working with production design systems.
Experience designing for game-like interactions, simulations, controllers, or other non-traditional input methods.
Familiarity with accessibility, responsive design, and usability principles.
Experience collaborating directly with software engineers to implement designs.
Coursework or project experience in human-computer interaction, computer science, or interaction design.
Interest in embedded systems, robotics, autonomy, or other technically complex products.

Responsibilities

Design and iterate on user interfaces for Android, tablet, embedded, and internal applications.
Create wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and high-fidelity designs that turn complex technical requirements into intuitive user experiences.
Work closely with engineers to bring designs to life using technologies such as Jetpack Compose and modern Android UI frameworks.
Collaborate with product managers, software engineers, and other stakeholders to understand user needs and translate them into thoughtful design solutions.
Design for real-time systems where responsiveness, clarity, and reliability matter.
Explore interaction patterns for touchscreens, gamepads/controllers, and other input methods.
Help establish and maintain consistent UI patterns and design systems across applications.
Participate in user feedback, usability testing, and iterative design reviews.
Contribute to the full product development cycle — from understanding a problem and sketching an initial concept to implementation and refinement.
Communicate design decisions clearly and incorporate feedback from both technical and non-technical teammates.