Internships

Not Your Average Internship

AV internships are built for those who want more than experience. No busy-work, no coffee runs—our interns work on real projects with real impact for our customers.

Interns are treated like employees and contribute to work that moves the company forward and shapes the future of defense technology.

Build What Matters

Engineer autonomous systems. Develop mission-critical software. Advance space and cyber capabilities. And test the hardware that makes it real.

Your work isn’t theoretical. The challenges are complex and the impact is meaningful.

Learn from the Best

Work alongside engineers, designers, and operators at the forefront of autonomy, AI, and robotics. Gain hands-on experience across engineering, manufacturing, and development.

AV combines startup agility with more than 50 years of innovation. Solve problems, turn ideas into operational capability, and gain experience that accelerates your career.

Launch your mission. Build the future. Start at AV.

Intern holding aircraft

Internship Benefits & Activities

Compensation

Paid internships
• 8–12 weeks of hands-on experience

Projects That Matter

Tackle meaningful, hands-on work tailored to your skills and interests. From day one, you’ll contribute to projects with real impact.

Housing

Housing may be available for select internship roles on a case-by-case basis.

AV SWAG

Get geared up with AV gear and goodies to welcome you to the team.

Connect & Learn

Collaborate with fellow interns, learn directly from leadership, and build relationships that support your long-term growth.

Locations

West Coast

  • Simi Valley, CA
  • Moorpark, CA
  • Petaluma, CA
  • San Diego, CA

East Coast

  • Arlington, VA
  • Centreville, VA
  • Dulles, VA
  • Herndon, VA
  • Germantown, MD
  • Annapolis Junction, MD
  • Melbourne, FL
  • Sunrise, FL
  • Pottstown/Pittsburgh, PA

Central U.S.

  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Huntsville, AL
  • Albuquerque, NM
  • Dayton, OH

Connect & Learn

Collaborate with fellow interns, learn directly from leadership, and build relationships that support your long-term growth.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Current enrollment in a college or university (sophomore year or above)
  • Available to work full-time on a 9/80 schedule during summer months
  • U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) as required under ITAR
  • Ability to pass a background check and drug screening
Man operating mini helicopter in front of children
Intern flying aircraft
Interns posing for picture
Intern on a ski and snowboarding trip
Group of interns posing with a toast holding beverages

Testimonials

The best part about interning at AV was that I was able to contribute to real projects and see the impact of that work. The many opportunities to participate in flight tests and get hands-on experience with hardware made the experience even better.

Luke Roberson

My internship at AV allowed me to interact with state-of-the-art technologies in robotics and unmanned aerial systems; I enjoyed the focus on development practices which blended in software integration with research, which has ultimately made me a better engineer.

Varun

“I loved my internship at AV because I was able to apply a wide range of skills I learned in school while continuously learning from experts in the field. I always felt my input was listened to and that my team cared greatly about making the internship a good experience for me.”

Brigid Morrissey

“My internship experience was truly exceptional. I was able to participate in hands-on work that genuinely applied my educational background to a real-world setting. The support and guidance from my team and everyone I met made me feel like I was an integral part of the team and pushed me to explore new out-of-the-box solutions that I wouldn’t have thought possible. Overall, the experience has allowed me to develop as an engineer and an individual, boosting my confidence, creativity, and ingenuity.”

Cason Kerrick

“What I enjoyed through the AV intern program was the hands-on experience that I got every day. I wasn’t just confined to a desk or in a lab space, I had variety in the tasks I was working on. Additionally, I love that AV treats their interns like engineers and gives them important tasks to complete that are beneficial to the program!”

Paige Lottman

Internship Program Accolades

National Recognition

Nominated for the Top 100 Internship Programs of 2025 by Yello.

Highly Competitive Program

Receives thousands of applications annually, reflecting strong brand recognition and demand among top students nationwide.

Program Growth & Strong Conversion

Continued year-over-year growth with a high acceptance-to-offer conversion rate, supporting our long-term talent pipeline strategy.

Exceptional Intern Experience

100% of surveyed interns reported they would recommend the program to a friend or colleague.

University & Industry Engagement

Active sponsor and participant in leading student and professional organizations, including:
• AIAA
• Design Build/Fly
• Society of Women Engineers
• Campus aerospace and robotics clubs

National Campus Presence

Participate in 15+ university fall career fairs annually to attract diverse, high-performing talent.

Join Our Internship Program

Benefits

Discover programs, coverage, and resources designed to support you.