IAE Electrical Engineering Internship – Summer 2026

Position Summary

The University of South Florida (USF) Institute of Applied Engineering (IAE) provides agile best-value engineering solutions to enhance the performance and effectiveness of its sponsors including the Department of Defense; other federal state and local agencies; and industry. These engineering solutions include hardware-and-software-based research advanced technology development prototypes and technical services.

The Electrical Engineering Intern will support USF IAE engineering projects focused on embedded systems sensing technologies robotics data collection and prototype development. This internship provides hands-on experience supporting real-world engineering efforts aligned with national security defense and advanced technology initiatives.

The internship program is administered by USF Institute of Applied Engineering. Upon hire you will be considered a USF IAE Temporary Employee.

Because this internship is partially funded by the Department of Defense U.S. Citizenship is required for eligibility.

Time Commitment

• Hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.
• Minimum 15 hours and maximum 20 hours per week during Fall/Spring semesters.
• Internship is primarily in-person at USF IAE facilities with limited remote work opportunities.

Opportunities

• Participate in advanced engineering research and development projects.
• Gain hands-on experience with embedded systems robotics and sensing technologies.
• Work alongside engineers supporting Department of Defense initiatives.
• Build professional experience and technical skills applicable to industry and government careers.
• Opportunity for continued internship employment based on performance.
• Letter of recommendation available upon request.

Pay Rate

$18.50/hour

• Assist with the design integration and testing of electrical and embedded systems.
• Support development and programming of Raspberry Pi-based systems and sensor networks.
• Interface and troubleshoot sensors communications modules and peripheral devices using Raspberry Pi GPIO and common protocols (I2C SPI UART).
• Develop and maintain Python scripts for data collection automation and sensor integration.
• Support laboratory testing prototype development and system validation activities.
• Conduct technical research on emerging sensing technologies and embedded platforms.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to support prototype development and experimentation.
• Document technical findings test procedures and engineering recommendations.

• Pursuing a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Computer Engineering Robotics Mechatronics or a related technical discipline.
• Junior or Senior standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Experience with Raspberry Pi hardware and Linux-based systems.
• Experience programming in Python.
• Familiarity with electronics sensors GPIO interfaces and embedded systems.
• Experience with soldering breadboarding and hardware troubleshooting is preferred.
• Interest in robotics autonomous systems sensing technologies or data acquisition systems.
• Special consideration will be given to students with experience or interest in subsea sensing underwater acoustics hydrophones sonar systems or oceanographic instrumentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic engineering environment.