Spring Intern 2026 - Flight Test

Mach Industries•Huntington Beach, CA

60d•Onsite

About The Position

Mach is seeking a Flight Test Engineering Intern to contribute to the development, testing, and validation of our advanced UAS platforms. This role emphasizes hands-on work in flight test planning, operations, and data collection, as well as coordination across engineering and flight operations teams. You'll help develop and execute test plans, prepare hardware for testing, and support flight activities at Mach's test sites. This position is ideal for an engineer who thrives in fast-paced environments and wants to be part of cutting-edge flight test operations.

Requirements

Must be enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program from an accredited college or university in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, or a related field.
3+ months of applied engineering experience (internship, laboratory, and personal/team project experience is applicable).
Strong understanding of flight mechanics, instrumentation, and basic control systems.
Familiarity with aircraft systems and operational safety principles.
Ability to work full-time onsite in Huntington Beach, CA.
Willingness to travel to flight test locations as needed.

Nice To Haves

GPA of 3.5 or above.
6+ months of experience in applying technical skills outside of the classroom (examples: laboratory, research, extracurricular project teams, volunteering, personal projects, or prior internship/work experience).
Experience with UAVs, RC aircraft, or flight simulators.
Familiarity with data acquisition, telemetry, or ground control systems (Mission Planner, QGroundControl, etc.).
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a professional team environment.
Interest in test operations, fieldwork, and hands-on experimentation.
Eagerness to learn and adapt in a dynamic startup environment.
Private Pilot License, Part 107 certification, or active pursuit of one is a plus.
Self-directed with a positive attitude and team spirit.

Responsibilities

Assist in planning and executing flight tests, including pre-flight preparations, readiness reviews, and post-flight data analysis.
Support the development of test procedures, safety checklists, and test plans under the guidance of the Flight Test and Systems Engineering teams.
Participate in test site setup and operations, including preparing ground control systems, telemetry, and test equipment.
Collect, organize, and process flight data for engineering review and validation.
Help maintain and improve flight test infrastructure and documentation processes.
Travel to test sites to support aircraft testing, operations, and demonstrations.