Quality Engineer Intern

Location: Petaluma, CA

Worker Type

Supplemental

Job Description

Our Summer Internship Program is meticulously designed to provide students with an immersive and dynamic experience within our industry, offering a taste of what it's like to be part of our professional team. We strive to simulate a full-time job, enabling our interns to work hands-on with cutting-edge technology, contribute to meaningful projects, build strong relationships with coworkers, and develop strategic problem-solving skills. Our program is highly selective, hosting only a handful of interns each year, ensuring personalized attention and ample opportunities to work closely with AV team members.

We are hiring for various roles and locations throughout the U.S. During the interview process, we will discuss specific details regarding the team and location.

Summary

You’ll have real responsibilities that impact actual products and help pave the way on our development path. You will work on projects and products that will launch AV into the future and provide your hands-on knowledge and skills through multiple phases of our Quality Engineering/Manufacturing Development processes.

You will support Quality Engineering activities in your discipline using tools such as MS Office, Statistical Application (Minitab), Drawing Interpretation, Process Auditing, and SolidWorks Inspection.

If you thrive on innovation and challenge, our engineering internship will exceed your expectations. You'll understand how your work fits into the whole and we'll give you the support you need to do the best work of your life.

Position Responsibilities

Assist Quality Engineers with investigations involving production and customer issues

Use measuring equipment such as Calipers and Micrometers to measure products for dimensional analysis

Participate in problem-solving sessions

Receives detailed instructions on all work under close supervision

Work with software tools in your area of expertise

Participates in all aspects of the Quality inspections, investigations, and process audit program

Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

U.S. Citizenship, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.

Must be currently enrolled in a college or university pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in a technical or engineering major related to work assignment during the internship.

Must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 out of a 4.0 GPA or equivalent

Must be available to work onsite full time (40 hours/week) for 8-12 weeks

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

Proficient in MS Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Basic knowledge of SolidWorks solid modeling application a plus

Possess a desire to build things; have a strong quality engineering aptitude; and thrive working in a team environment.

General quality engineering fundamentals, problem solving, data analysis, drawing interpretation, and basic product and process evaluations

Completed coursework relevant to major

UAV or Robotics experience a plus

Flight test or R/C experience a plus

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office and R&D environment (Constant)

Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:  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:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better p