Autonomous Systems Intern

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE’s Autonomous and Intelligent Systems Department seeks a strong technical candidate to develop AI and autonomous system solutions for sponsor needs. The role involves building robots, evaluating state-of-the-art systems, and contributing to AI/ autonomy initiatives across projects.

Ideal candidates will work in a fast-paced team environment, collaborating with engineers to advance robots and intelligent platforms for national missions and sponsor programs.

Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge of robotics and autonomous systems concepts such as architectures, kinematics, dynamics, control, perception, or planning.
• Familiarity with relevant software tools (e.g., C/C++, Python, ROS, MATLAB/Simulink).
• Demonstrated sustained excellence in academic performance.
• Interest in public service or societal missions through robotics work.

Responsibilities

• Autonomous ground, air, surface, or underwater vehicles development and testing.
• Robot perception and sensor fusion (cameras, LiDAR, radar, IMU, GPS).
• Motion planning, navigation, and control for robotic platforms.
• Real-time and embedded software development for robotics.
• AI/ML for robotics perception and decision-making.
• SLAM and state estimation.

Skills

Robotics basics

C/C++

Python

ROS

MATLAB/Simulink

Education

Robotics degree

Engineering degree

Tools

C/C++

Python

ROS

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

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 Responsibilities:

• 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

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

None

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$46,500 - $58,000 - $69,500 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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