Summer 2026 Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineering Intern

Worker Type

Job Description
 

Summary

Our Summer Internship Program is meticulously designed to provide students with an immersive and dynamic experience within our industry, offering a taste of what it's like to be part of our professional team. We strive to simulate a full-time job, enabling our interns to work hands-on with cutting-edge technology, contribute to meaningful projects, build strong relationships with coworkers, and develop strategic problem-solving skills. Our program is highly selective, hosting only a handful of interns each year, ensuring personalized attention and ample opportunities to work closely with AV team members. 

We are hiring for various roles and locations throughout the U.S. During the interview process, we will discuss specific details regarding the team and location.

We are seeking a motivated GNC Engineering Intern to join our multidisciplinary team. In this role, you will support projects related to Guidance, Navigation & Control (GN&C), flight testing, software, and hardware development. This internship offers a hands-on learning opportunity in aerospace systems, providing exposure to flight control systems, testing procedures, and system integration. You will work under the guidance of experienced engineers and gain valuable experience in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Internship Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and development of GN&C systems for current and future aircraft projects
• Support system testing, including simulation environments (e.g., 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

Basic Qualifications

• 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 the following areas: GN&C, flight dynamics, control systems, embedded systems, or robotics
• Strong interest in aircraft systems, GN&C, and aerospace engineering
• Basic proficiency in MATLAB, Simulink, or similar modeling tools is a plus
• 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)

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with any of the following: PCB design, embedded programming, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, or flight software development
• Hands-on project or lab experience involving control systems or autonomous vehicles (e.g., drones, robotics projects)
• Enthusiastic about learning and contributing to real-world aerospace projects
• Ability to adapt in a dynamic team-oriented environment

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in an office, lab, or test environment
• May require standing or sitting for extended periods and use of standard office equipment

This internship is designed to provide practical experience and skill development in aerospace engineering, particularly in the GN&C discipline. Interns will leave with a better understanding of how flight systems are developed, tested, and integrated in real-world applications.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems.  Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR