Field-Deployed Software Engineering Intern – Fall 2026 / Spring 2027

Your Mission

As a Field-Deployed Software Engineering Intern, you will support the development, integration, and testing of GITAI’s robotic and space systems. A major part of this role happens on real hardware. You will regularly deploy to our outdoor test site to support data acquisition, system bring-up, troubleshooting, and test execution. You will also contribute to software development in at least one technical area such as robotics, computer vision, or guidance, navigation, and control (GNC). You should be comfortable moving between code, sensors, computers, networks, actuators, and test equipment to understand why a system is or is not working.

What You’ll Drive

• Support weekly field testing, including system setup, bring-up, data acquisition, logging, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Develop and debug software for robotics, computer vision, GNC, or related systems.
• Diagnose problems across software and hardware, including sensors, actuators, communications, timing, configuration, and computing systems.
• Build scripts and lightweight tools for data collection, visualization, system health monitoring, and test automation.
• Review test data and logs, reproduce failures, and work with engineers to identify root causes and fixes.
• Support hardware/software integration and test preparation at our Torrance facility between field deployments.
• Document test configurations, issues, findings, and software changes so the engineering team can act on them quickly.

What We’re Looking For

• Start Date: Fall 2026 / Spring 2027. Earlier availability is preferred, and candidates who can start immediately are welcome.
• Currently pursuing or recently completed a BS or MS in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• At least 1 year of sustained, hands-on contribution to a robotics team, rocketry team, Formula SAE, research lab, or a similar environment where software was developed, integrated, and debugged on physical hardware.
• Available to work at least three days per week.
• Able to spend Wednesdays and Thursdays at GITAI’s outdoor test site in the desert region near Los Angeles on a regular basis.
• Hands-on experience getting software to work with real hardware through internships, research, student teams, competitions, or personal projects.
• Experience in at least one of the following areas: robotics, computer vision, controls, GNC, autonomy, or embedded systems.
• Experience programming in Python or C++.
• Comfortable working in Linux.
• Strong debugging skills and the ability to work through problems that cross software and hardware boundaries.
• Comfortable working outdoors around active engineering test operations.
• U.S. citizenship required, as this role may support U.S. Government programs that require eligibility for a U.S. Secret security clearance.

Strong Plus:

• Experience with ROS or ROS 2.
• Experience integrating sensors, cameras, actuators, embedded computers, or robotic systems.
• Experience with OpenCV, PyTorch, state estimation, motion planning, control systems, or related robotics software.
• Experience with hardware communication interfaces such as CAN, Ethernet, serial, EtherCAT, or similar protocols.
• Experience with data acquisition, telemetry, time synchronization, or analysis of experimental test data.

Location & Employment Details

• Location: Torrance, CA (onsite). Frequent overnight travel to desert test sites, including Barstow, Mojave, and other locations throughout Southern California, is expected based on program needs.
• Employment Type: Part-time, temporary, non-exempt
• Compensation: $28 - $40 per hour. Final compensation will be determined based on academic level, relevant technical experience, and demonstrated hands-on engineering capability.
• Typical Work Hours: Monday to Friday, approximately 9:00am – 6:00pm (onsite). Flexibility is expected based on mission schedules and program needs.

GITAI does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing or recruiting agencies. We work only with recruiting partners that have been specifically engaged by GITAI. No fees will be paid for resumes submitted without a prior agreement.