Autonomous Systems Intern
MITRE
Summary
MITRE's Autonomous and Intelligent Systems Department is an innovative team of engineers focused on the development of cutting-edge autonomous systems, robotics capabilities, and AI solutions. The department has a new opportunity for a strong technical candidate to work with an innovative team of engineers focused on developing Artificial Intelligence and/or Autonomous System solutions for sponsor needs. The right candidate will enjoy a fast-paced team environment and working with groundbreaking technology. We are seeking candidates that can assist in building robots, artificial intelligence projects, and evaluating state-of-the-art systems. The candidate for this position will work on challenging activities in direct support of sponsor programs and/or internal R&D supporting MITRE's AI and autonomy efforts.
Job description
Job Responsibilities
As a Robotics and Autonomous Systems Intern, you will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of engineers and researchers to apply your academic knowledge and gain hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Autonomous ground, air, surface, or underwater vehicles
- Robot perception and sensor fusion (e.g., cameras, LiDAR, radar, IMU, GPS)
- Motion planning, navigation, and control for robotic platforms
- Real-time and embedded software for robotics
- Robotics-focused Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
- Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and state estimation
- Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) and operator interfaces
- Multi-agent and swarm robotics
- Modeling, simulation, and digital twins for robotic systems
- Safety, reliability, and verification of autonomous systems
- Cybersecurity for robotic and autonomous platforms
- Field testing, experimentation, and data collection with robotic systems
- Robotics hardware and software integration
Basic Qualifications
- Must be a full-time student pursuing an accredited degree program in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
- Must continue to be enrolled the semester following the internship.
- Foundational knowledge of robotics and/or autonomous systems concepts such as robotic architectures, kinematics, dynamics, control, perception, or planning, and familiarity with relevant software tools (e.g., C/C++, Python, ROS, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar).
- Must have sustained excellence in academic performance.
- Demonstrated interest in serving the public or advancing societal missions through previous work experience, volunteer activities, or other relevant engagements—especially in areas involving robotics or autonomous systems
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience applying robotics or autonomous systems coursework in an internship, research lab, project team (e.g., robotics club, competition team), or independent project.
- Proficiency with robotics software frameworks and tools (e.g., ROS/ROS2, Gazebo or other simulators, embedded development environments, version control such as Git).
- Experience with one or more of the following: Robot perception and computer vision; Path planning, navigation, and control algorithms; Real-time and embedded systems for robotics; Machine learning for perception or decision-making in autonomous systems; Modeling, simulation, and hardware-in-the-loop testing
Requirements
- Must be a full-time student pursuing an accredited degree program in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline
- Must continue to be enrolled the semester following the internship
- Foundational knowledge of robotics and/or autonomous systems concepts such as robotic architectures, kinematics, dynamics, control, perception, or planning
- Familiarity with relevant software tools (e.g., C/C++, Python, ROS, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar)
- Must have sustained excellence in academic performance
- Demonstrated interest in serving the public or advancing societal missions through previous work experience, volunteer activities, or other relevant engagements
Benefits
- Competitive Benefits
- Career Development
Company overview
MITRE is a not-for-profit corporation that operates federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) for various U.S. government agencies. Founded in 1958, MITRE serves as a critical bridge between government requirements and technological innovation, providing objective analysis and solutions to complex national security and public interest challenges. The organization's work spans multiple domains including cybersecurity, aviation, healthcare, defense systems, and critical infrastructure protection. MITRE operates two primary FFRDCs: one for the Department of Defense and another for the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Homeland Security. The corporation is renowned for developing technical standards and frameworks, most notably the MITRE ATT&CK framework for cybersecurity threat modeling. With a workforce of engineers, scientists, and technical specialists, MITRE focuses on solving problems of national importance through applied research, systems engineering, and advanced technology development, maintaining strict objectivity by not manufacturing products or competing with private industry.