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The Advanced Capabilities and Systems Group is an agile, innovative, multi-disciplinary team developing novel system and technology concepts that address the nation’s critical security challenges. The group leverages focused analysis to understand solutions to defense and intelligence problems, and then develops the solutions in a fast cycle of experimentation and prototyping. The group supports the Army, Air Force, Navy, Special Operations Forces, the Intelligence Community, and other government agencies in a wide variety of prototyping efforts principally focused on autonomous systems and radio frequency systems. The Group consists of talented technical staff with expertise in many autonomous system development areas including mechanical and electrical design, autonomous control, software engineering, embedded systems, computer vision, machine learning, statistics, and optimization.

Job Description:

The Advanced Capabilities & Systems Group is seeking individuals for summer internship positions to contribute to a number of challenging small Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) projects to aid in national defense. An ideal candidate has deep experience in at least one – or a breadth of experience in several – of the following:

+ Multi-rotor, fixed-wing, or VTOL UAS configuration design

+ Conceptual-to-preliminary aerodynamic, structural, and flight energy analysis (Tornado, AVL, XFOIL, XROTOR, etc.)

+ UAS propulsion system component selection, analysis, and testing

+ Weight-critical structural design

+ Geometry-primitives to prototype-level CAD workstack

+ Prototyping fabrication (composite layups, traditional machining, and additive manufacturing)

+ Printed circuit board design and fabrication

+ UAS electronics integration (batteries, radios, autopilot, flight termination systems, ESCs, etc.)

+ UAS autopilot software (ArduPilot, PX4, BetaFlight, etc.) and control tuning

+ Flight test planning, documentation, and test operations

In addition to the above topics, there are other potential summer internship opportunities with the group, and we will broadly consider candidates meeting the position requirements below.

Position Requirements:

+ Current BS, MS, or PhD students in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics or other similar technical field, coupled with the ability to apply talents to new fields.

+ Demonstrated excellence in communication skills and the ability to convey technical concepts in a clear, concise manner to a wide spectrum of audiences.

Summer Research Program Overview

The Summer Research Program offers students the chance to apply their academic knowledge to real-world national security challenges while working alongside leading scientists and engineers. As an SRP intern, you’ll engage in hands-on research, receive dedicated mentorship, and take part in professional development opportunities including workshops, tech talks, and networking events—all while building connections within a vibrant community of peers.

+ Internships are typically 10–12 weeks, with flexible start and end dates, typically May through early August.

+ Housing support is available for eligible non-local interns, including access to discounted university housing in Boston and a one-time taxable relocation payment.

+ Complimentary daily shuttle transportation is provided from Boston-based housing to and from the Lab.

Compensation

Hourly pay rates below are effective January 2025 – December 2025 and will be reviewed again for Summer 2026.

+ Freshman (BS expected May/June 2029): $24.50/hour

+ Sophomore (BS expected May/June 2028): $26.00/hour

+ Junior (BS expected May/June 2027): $28.00/hour

+ Senior (5-year BS program, completed 4 years by May/June 2026): $31.00/hour

+ Bachelor’s degree completed in 2026: $34.50/hour

+ BS + 1 (BS completed May/June 2025, 1st year of MS in 2025–26): $36.00/hour

+ BS + 2 (BS completed May/June 2024, 2nd year of MS in 2025–26, degree not yet conferred): $37.50/hour

+ MS (Master’s degree expected May/June 2026): $38.00/hour

+ MS + 1 (MS completed May/June 2025, 1st year of PhD in 2025–26): $40.50/hour

+ MS + 2 (MS completed May/June 2024, 2nd year of PhD in 2025–26): $42.00/hour

+ MS + 3 (MS completed May/June 2023, 3rd year of PhD in 2025–26): $43.00/hour

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.

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