Job Description
Worker Type
Regular
Job Description
SummaryThe Engineering Intern will work within a specific area of Engineering that fits one's area of study and experience. AeroVironment is an engineering innovator and that means we seek individuals with a broad background of technical skills and the desire to tackle real-world challenges. To qualify for an Engineering Internship, one must be a Junior or higher in one of our preferred majors; possess a desire to build things; have a strong engineering aptitude and thrive working in a team environment.
One will have real responsibilities that impact actual products and help pave the way on our development path. Whether one is part of a team designing a new unmanned aircraft to be used for planetary surveillance, or working to test and verify design modifications to flight hardware/software systems, or helping to resolve flight behavior issues on a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle, your AeroVironment internship will challenge you, stimulate you and provide you with real-world experience at one of America's most innovative and creative tech companies.
Position Responsibilities
Use your hands-on knowledge and skills to participate in multiple phases of our Engineering/Manufacturing Design & Development process
Will support engineering and design activities in your discipline using tools such as Windtunnels, 3-D Printers, Solidworks, Altium, Ansys, Visual Studio, and Matlab
Other duties as assigned
Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)
Currently enrolled Junior, Senior or Grad Student pursuing a degree in Aero/Mechanical/Electrical or Computer Science/Engineering
Completed coursework relevant to major
UAV or Robotics experience
Hand-on experience with relevant tools
Experience with software tools in your area of expertise
Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies
Flight test or R/C experience a plus
General engineering fundamentals, mathematics, physics, material properties
Familiarity with structured development techniques
Thrives on innovation and challenge
Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
Has effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills.
Focuses on teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests
Physical Demands
Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant)
Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Constant)
Entry-Level Radar Exploitation Engineer
Location: Dayton, Ohio (On-site at or near Wright-Patterson AFB)
Organization: AV Specialized Exploitation & Targeting (SET) Department
Job Type: Full-time / Exempt
Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI required; active TS/SCI desired
Overview
AV’s Specialized Exploitation & Targeting (SET) Department is seeking an entry-level Radar Exploitation Engineer to support NASIC at Wright-Patterson AFB. You will help characterize foreign missile systems using line-of-sight radar–collected data and support the production of technical intelligence products for warfighters, senior decision-makers, and the Intelligence Community.
Key Responsibilities
- Help characterize foreign missile systems (ballistic, cruise, hypersonic, air-to-air, surface-to-air, surface-to-surface) using line-of-sight radar data.
- Assist in extracting and interpreting radar-derived observables (e.g., RCS, kinematics, staging events, propulsion phases, guidance behavior).
- Support analysis of time-series radar data to identify flight phases and unique signature features.
- Apply basic signal processing and tracking techniques, under guidance, to derive kinematic/dynamic parameters from radar returns.
- Draft clear written products (technical notes, reports, briefings) that meet IC standards.
- Present findings to teammates and support briefings to NASIC and other stakeholders as experience grows.
- Contribute to the development and refinement of methods and tools for radar-based missile exploitation.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
- 0–2 years of experience (internships, projects, or coursework) in radar analysis, missile systems analysis, RF signal processing, MASINT, EW, or related technical disciplines.
- Foundational understanding of radar fundamentals (radar equation, SNR, detection/tracking, antennas, beam patterns, line-of-sight propagation, basic waveforms).
- Familiarity with missile kinematics and flight phases (boost, midcourse, terminal).
- Experience with MATLAB and/or Python (NumPy/SciPy/Matplotlib) for data analysis, modeling, or signal processing.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to communicate technical results clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
Desired Qualifications
- Relevant internships, research, or coursework focused on radar, missile systems, or technical intelligence.
- Exposure to modeling & simulation tools (e.g., STK, radar tracking simulations).
- Familiarity with multi-sensor data (radar, optical/IR) and basic fusion concepts.
Competencies & Work Environment
- Strong technical curiosity and willingness to learn complex radar and missile phenomenology.
- Ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary, classified environment.
- Work is performed on-site in secure facilities in or around Wright-Patterson AFB; occasional travel (<10–15%) may be required.
Clearance Level
The salary range for this role is:
$60,500 - $86,100AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.
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.
About AV:
AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.
We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.
Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.
If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.
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
U.S. Citizenship required. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.