Shield AI
Mission Systems Engineering Fall 2026 Co-op (Beginning June 2026) (R4071)
Shield AI, San Diego, Texas, United States, 78384
Mission Systems Engineering Co-op (R4071)
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai.
Program Overview Our 2026 Summer Internship program offers Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 graduates a 10‑week paid internship that provides hands‑on mentorship, real contribution via an internship project, and a potential full‑time job offer at the end. You will build lifelong friendships, expand your network, and learn about high‑growth, fast‑scaling tech.
Job Description As a co‑op on our Mission Systems team, you will tackle a scoped, non‑critical integration project that adds a secondary mission payload or utility interface to the V‑BAT system. The 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. All 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.
Offload low‑priority, engineering‑intensive work from the Mission Systems team to maintain focus on critical path deliverables.
Contribute to the development and documentation of repeatable integration workflows for future payloads.
Provide hands‑on experience in avionics systems engineering, integration testing, and cross‑functional collaboration—ideal for students pursuing careers in aerospace, robotics, or embedded systems.
Document interface requirements, wiring diagram updates, and test plan for payload integration mid‑co‑op.
Validate hardware/software integration on bench or aircraft and submit a technical report summarizing design, testing, and outcomes by the end of the co‑op.
Required Qualifications
Background in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related hardware disciplines.
Demonstrated cross‑functional experience (hardware‑centric engineers with exposure to software tools, or software students with hands‑on hardware experience).
Familiarity with system integration, basic prototyping, and interpreting engineering documentation (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.
Compensation $35 – $55 per 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.
Equal Opportunity 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.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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Program Overview Our 2026 Summer Internship program offers Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 graduates a 10‑week paid internship that provides hands‑on mentorship, real contribution via an internship project, and a potential full‑time job offer at the end. You will build lifelong friendships, expand your network, and learn about high‑growth, fast‑scaling tech.
Job Description As a co‑op on our Mission Systems team, you will tackle a scoped, non‑critical integration project that adds a secondary mission payload or utility interface to the V‑BAT system. The 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. All 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.
Offload low‑priority, engineering‑intensive work from the Mission Systems team to maintain focus on critical path deliverables.
Contribute to the development and documentation of repeatable integration workflows for future payloads.
Provide hands‑on experience in avionics systems engineering, integration testing, and cross‑functional collaboration—ideal for students pursuing careers in aerospace, robotics, or embedded systems.
Document interface requirements, wiring diagram updates, and test plan for payload integration mid‑co‑op.
Validate hardware/software integration on bench or aircraft and submit a technical report summarizing design, testing, and outcomes by the end of the co‑op.
Required Qualifications
Background in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related hardware disciplines.
Demonstrated cross‑functional experience (hardware‑centric engineers with exposure to software tools, or software students with hands‑on hardware experience).
Familiarity with system integration, basic prototyping, and interpreting engineering documentation (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.
Compensation $35 – $55 per 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.
Equal Opportunity 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.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
#J-18808-Ljbffr