Mission Systems Engineering Intern - 2026 Summer Intern (r4070)

Mission Systems Engineering Intern - 2026 Summer Intern

San Diego, California / Dallas, Texas

Aircraft Division – Product Management

Intern / On-site

Our 2026 Summer Internship program is a wonderful opportunity for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 graduates to immerse themselves in an innovative and mission driven culture. Our 10-week paid internship program will provide you with hands on mentorship, an opportunity to add real contribution to our company via your internship project, and a possible job offer at the end. You will have the chance to make lifelong friendships, expand your network, and learn all about what it's like to work in a high-growth, fast scaling tech unicorn. You'll take part in company sponsored events and enjoy exploring a new city.

As an intern on our Mission Systems team, you will be tasked with a scoped, non-critical integration project involving the addition of a secondary mission payload or utility interface to the V-BAT system. This effort includes reviewing interface control documentation (ICDs), assisting with hardware and software integration, performing bench-level testing, and supporting flight test preparation under close mentorship. The project is designed to offload lower-priority integration work from the Mission Systems team while giving the intern a full product development experience—from design through validation—without impacting the critical path. The work will be rigorously reviewed and gated to ensure safety and quality throughout.

Project Goals & Deliverables:

• Integrate a non-critical mission payload or utility component into the V-BAT system, including electrical and software interface validation.
• Gain exposure to system integration workflows, data collection, and troubleshooting in a flight-ready aerospace environment.
• Offloads low-priority, engineering-intensive work from the Mission Systems team to maintain focus on critical path deliverables.
• Contributes to the development and documentation of repeatable integration workflows for future payloads.
• Provides hands-on experience in avionics systems engineering, integration testing, and cross-functional collaboration—ideal for students pursuing careers in aerospace, robotics, or embedded systems.
• Offers exposure to full lifecycle development, from design review to potential flight test validation.
• Mid-internship: Documented interface requirements, wiring diagram updates, and test plan for payload integration.
• Final: Validated hardware/software integration on bench or aircraft, along with a technical report summarizing design, testing, and outcomes.

Required qualifications:

• You are an undergraduate, graduate or PhD student expected to graduate in December 2026 or Spring 2027.
• Background in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related hardware disciplines
• Demonstrated cross-functional experience (e.g., mechanical or electrical engineers with some exposure to software tools, or software students with hands-on hardware experience)
• Familiarity with system integration, basic prototyping, and interpreting engineering documentation (e.g., schematics, wiring diagrams, or CAD)
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a hands-on, iterative approach to engineering tasks

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with Python, MATLAB, or scripting for data analysis or test automation
• Familiarity with embedded systems, firmware, or data interfaces
• Exposure to mechanical or electrical CAD tools
• Strong communication skills and experience working in multidisciplinary teams

KPIs & Milestones:

• Week 1–2: Onboarding & Familiarization
• Completes onboarding tasks, safety training, and lab access setup
• Reviews system documentation, ICDs, and relevant wiring diagrams
• Demonstrates understanding of project scope and integration requirements
• Week 3–4: Planning & Early Execution
• Defines integration plan with mentor approval
• Identifies necessary components (connectors, harnesses, interface points)
• Creates draft wiring diagrams or block diagrams
• Begins initial bench-level prototyping or interface testing
• Week 5–6: Midpoint Review
• Presents progress update to mentor and team
• Achieves functional hardware/software integration on bench (partial or full)
• Submits a written midterm report covering test plan and early findings
• Week 7–8: Testing & Iteration
• Conducts validation testing, collects and analyzes data
• Troubleshoots and iterates based on test results
• Begins drafting final documentation (integration summary, test report)
• Week 9–10: Final Delivery
• Demonstrates completed integration on bench or test platform
• Submits final technical report and documentation package
• Presents project outcomes in a final presentation to the team

$35 - $55 an hour

Rising Bachelor's graduate = $35/hour

Rising Master's graduate = $42/hour

Rising PhD graduate = $55/hour

Housing stipend provided, amount based on location

Intern Program Dates: June 1st - Aug 7th OR June 22nd - Aug 28th

*You MUST be available to start on EITHER June 1st or June 22nd.

Shield AI is proud to offer competitive pay and a housing stipend for qualified hires. While our People Experience team provides resources and assistance, interns are responsible to find their own housing and travel to and from their office location.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.