GNC​/Autonomy Engineering Intern

Our paid Summer Internship Program is designed to provide students with an immersive, hands‑on experience within the aerospace and defense industry. Interns work alongside AV team members on meaningful projects involving cutting‑edge technology while developing professional relationships, strategic problem‑solving skills, and practical experience in a full‑time work environment. This is a 12‑week, onsite program intended for highly motivated and passionate students who are currently enrolled in college or are recent graduates.

Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, with a preference for students at the junior level or above. Our program has been recognized by Yello and Way Up as one of the Top 100 Internship Programs in the United States for multiple years. Depending on the team and location, students who are willing to relocate for their internship may be eligible for a relocation and housing reimbursement stipend.

This position will report onsite to our Simi Valley, CA office and support our Small Unmanned Systems team. We are seeking a motivated GNC / Autonomy 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.

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

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)

Familiarity with any of the following: 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

Ability to work in an office, lab, or test environment

May require standing or sitting for extended periods and use of standard office equipment

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:  We also encourage you to review our company website at  to learn more about…