Engineering Intern / Co-op

OceanComm, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 48,216 - 75,768; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Close mentorship and training

Job summary

OceanComm, Inc. in Chicago seeks engineering interns to join their team working on cutting-edge undersea technology. Ideal candidates are students in electrical, computer, or mechanical engineering programs with strong programming skills and fundamentals in data structures or circuits.

This internship offers real-world experience, mentorship, and the possibility of a full-time role upon graduation. Compensation ranges from $35 to $55 per hour based on skills and experience.

Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an academic program related to engineering.
• Strong fundamentals in areas like data structures or circuits.
• Proficiency in a programming language like C, C++, or Python.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to projects involving undersea technology.
• Work closely with experienced engineers and receive training.
• Participate in an impactful project with end-to-end ownership.

Skills

C

C++

Python

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Currently enrolled in electrical, computer, or mechanical engineering program

Tools

Git

Lab equipment

CAD/3D printing

Job description

Join OceanComm’s engineering team and help build undersea drones, intelligent sensors, and other cutting‑edge undersea technology. This is a hands‑on role for students in electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, or related technical programs who want real experience at the intersection of acoustics, signal processing, machine learning, embedded systems, and robotics. You can pick a primary area while still having room to cross over. We’ll match projects to your skills and curiosity. You’ll work closely with experienced engineers, receive training, and contribute to products used in defense, offshore energy, and oceanographic research. Many of our past interns have gone on to join OceanComm full‑time. Strong performers will be considered for a full‑time role after graduation.

About Us

Underwater, the wireless transfer of a single picture used to take an hour. We brought to market wireless modems that transfer data 100 to 1,000 times faster. Legacy modems were basically status/command links; our modems can control undersea drones with live video feedback, a game changer for exploring the underwater world. Because radio waves attenuate quickly underwater, our modems use sound waves to communicate. Leading organizations in defense, offshore energy and oceanographic research rely on OceanComm to keep their undersea drones connected.

• Actively enrolled in an academic program, not a recent graduate
• Full‑time, on‑site commitment for a minimum of 12 weeks
• Majoring in EE / CompE / MechE (or related)
• Strong fundamentals (data structures / algorithms or circuits / digital / embedded or controls / mechanical design)
• Proficiency in at least one of: C, C++, or Python; comfort with Git and writing unit tests
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Due to export‑controlled work, candidates must be U.S. persons (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b)

What Will Put You Ahead

• Substantial projects (repo or short write‑up)
• Understanding of machine learning / signal processing fundamentals
• Comfort with linear algebra
• Experience with web development (especially TypeScript / Vue)
• Experience with ROV / AUV hardware / software / control (e.g. ROS2)
• Experience with CAD / 3D printing
• Familiarity with lab equipment (e.g. oscilloscopes, probes, debuggers)
• Familiarity with device interfaces (e.g. Ethernet, CAN, I²C, SPI)
• Familiarity with embedded development (e.g. bootloaders, device trees, drivers, RTOS)
• Familiarity with Operating Systems concepts (e.g. schedulers, mutexes, virtual memory)
• Experience with FPGA / RTL (e.g. SystemVerilog, UVM, cocotb)

• Close mentorship and training
• End‑to‑end ownership of a scoped, impactful project
• End‑of‑internship demo day
• Paid vacation

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $35 – $55 per hour. Actual pay will depend on the candidate’s experience and skills demonstrated during interviews and other evaluations.

OceanComm is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vet.