Engineering Intern

Mission Driven Research (MDR) is seeking talented and motivated college students to join our 2026 Summer Internship Program. Interns will help design build and test next-generation autonomous systems that push the boundaries of what uncrewed platforms can do.

Youll work side-by-side with experienced engineers on a hands-on prototype effort that could span air land sea or the electromagnetic spectrum.

This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a small cross-disciplinary team developing real hardware and software for field testing - not mockups. Youll gain experience in the full design cycle from concept to demo and see your work fly drive or dive before summer ends.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate on the design fabrication and testing of autonomous vehicle prototypes.
• Work with cross-functional teams to integrate mechanical electrical software and systems elements into a cohesive platform.
• Support development of control systems sensors and embedded or real-time software.
• Contribute to simulation modeling and data analysis for vehicle performance and autonomy.
• Participate in hands-on assembly bench testing and field demonstrations.
• Document your designs and present progress to the engineering team.

Qualifications and Preferred Skills:

• Current enrollment in Mechanical Aerospace Electrical Computer Software or Systems Engineering (or related STEM) program.
• At least two years of college coursework completed by Summer 2026.
• Strong technical foundation in your discipline and a passion for autonomous systems robotics or vehicle design.
• Experience in one or more of the following is a plus: CAD (SolidWorks Fusion 360) MATLAB/Simulink C/C Python ROS 2 embedded systems or control theory soldering and circuit design 3d printing.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills with a self-starter and growth mindsets.

Our Commitment:

At MDR we believe the best engineers learn by doing. Our internship program provides mentorship technical training and the freedom to experiment and innovate. We foster a professional inclusive and collaborative environment where each interns contribution has a real impact on the future of autonomous systems.

Application Details

Internship selections will be made around March 2026.
Applicants must be available to work in-person in Huntsville for the duration of the internship.

Position: Engineering Intern (Mechanical Aerospace Electrical Software or Systems)
Location: Huntsville Alabama
Duration: Summer 2026
Hours: Full-time 20-40 hours per week (40 hours preferred)
Compensation: $15 - $20 per hour

Mission Driven Research is an Equal Opportunity Employer including disability/veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability or status as a protected veteran. If you are interested in applying for employment with Mission Driven Research and need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website please contact us by email () or by phone by calling . When contacting us please provide your contact information and state the nature of your accessibility issue.

Required Experience:

Intern