Graphic Design & Technical Communications Intern - Summer 2027

STR; Woburn (MA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free housing for interns at our MAsite

Job summary

STR in Massachusetts is seeking a Graphic Design & Technical Communications Intern to craft technical presentations and visual assets for engineering and research teams. You will translate complex concepts into clear, engaging slides and graphics while upholding STR's branding.

You'll collaborate with engineers and scientists, develop branded templates, and prepare assets for both digital and print use. This internship offers hands-on learning and summer housing support.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a graphic design degree or related field.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Proficient in PowerPoint—layouts, charts, and formatting.
• Working knowledge of Word and document formatting.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Strong visual communication, typography, layout, and information hierarchy.
• Ability to organize complex information and communicate visually.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn unfamiliar technical subjects.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Attention to detail and consistent brand application.
• Portfolio demonstrating graphic design or presentation design.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and refine professional PowerPoint presentations for technical audiences.
• Collaborate with engineers and researchers to translate concepts into visuals.
• Create diagrams, illustrations, infographics communicating technical information.
• Transform dense content into well-organized slides.
• Improve presentations for clarity, readability, and visual consistency.
• Ensure materials adhere to STR's visual identity and brand standards.
• Develop graphics for internal communications and branding.
• Maintain branded templates and reusable design assets.
• Prepare graphics for digital and print applications.
• Work with technical staff to understand messages and context.
• Present design ideas and iterate based on feedback.
• Balance technical accuracy with visual clarity in designs.
• Manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines.

Skills

Visual communication

Presentation design

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Information hierarchy

Education

Pursuing Graphic Design or related field

Tools

PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Adobe Creative Suite

Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

Job description

Graphic Design & Technical Communications Intern - Summer 2027

Woburn, MA

Graphic Design & Technical Communications Intern

STR is seeking a creative, detail-oriented Graphic Design & Technical Communications Intern to support the development of compelling visual communications for complex engineering and technical projects. This role is ideal for a student who enjoys combining graphic design with analytical thinking and has an interest in learning about advanced technologies.

The primary focus of this position will be creating and refining technical presentations, particularly in Microsoft PowerPoint, to help engineers and researchers communicate sophisticated concepts clearly and effectively. The ideal candidate will be curious, collaborative, and comfortable working with technical subject matter experts to understand their work and translate complex information into accessible, visually engaging graphics and presentations.

Additional responsibilities will include supporting corporate branding efforts, maintaining visual consistency across presentation materials, and developing graphics for internal communications and signage.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Presentation Design

• Design, develop, and refine professional PowerPoint presentations for technical, engineering, research, and business audiences.
• Collaborate directly with engineers and researchers to understand complex technical concepts and translate them into clear, effective visual representations.
• Create custom diagrams, illustrations, infographics, and other visual elements that communicate technical information accurately and intuitively.
• Transform dense technical content, including text, data, and conceptual descriptions, into well-organized, visually compelling slides.
• Improve existing presentations for clarity, readability, visual consistency, and overall effectiveness.
• Ensure presentation materials adhere to STR's established visual identity and brand standards.

Graphic Design & Branding

• Develop graphics and visual assets for internal communications, signage, and other corporate branding initiatives.
• Support the creation and maintenance of branded templates and reusable design assets.
• Apply consistent typography, color palettes, layouts, and visual styles across materials.
• Assist in updating and refining presentation and document templates in Microsoft PowerPoint and Word.
• Prepare graphics and design files for both digital and print applications.
• Work closely with engineers, scientists, and technical staff to understand the purpose, context, and key messages of their work.
• Ask thoughtful questions and demonstrate a willingness to learn unfamiliar technical concepts.
• Present design ideas, incorporate feedback, and iteratively refine visual materials.
• Balance technical accuracy with visual clarity, ensuring designs enhance rather than oversimplify the underlying information.
• Manage multiple assignments and meet project deadlines in a collaborative environment.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Graphic Design or a related field.
• Must be a U.S. citizen due to the nature of STR's work and applicable regulations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint including slide layouts, visual composition, charts, shapes, and presentation formatting.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and document formatting.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Strong visual communication skills, including typography, layout, information hierarchy, and composition.
• Demonstrated ability to organize complex information and communicate visually.
• Intellectual curiosity and a willingness to engage with unfamiliar engineering, scientific, or technical subject matter.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to collaborate with people who may not have a design background.
• Attention to detail and an ability to apply brand standards consistently.
• A portfolio that demonstrates graphic design, presentation design, information visualization, or related work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing or modifying PowerPoint templates, Slide Masters, custom layouts, and themes.
• Experience creating or maintaining Microsoft Word templates, including styles, themes, headers, footers, and document formatting standards.
• Experience designing presentations for professional, academic, or research audiences.
• Understanding of corporate brand identity systems and visual style guidelines.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be more than a traditional graphic designer. They will be a visual problem-solver who enjoys understanding how things work.

They do not need to arrive with an engineering background, but they should be excited by the opportunity to learn from engineers and scientists, ask questions, and find creative ways to explain complicated ideas. They should be equally comfortable designing a polished technical presentation, building a clear systems diagram, and applying consistent branding to corporate materials.

Above all, we are looking for someone who recognizes that effective technical design is not simply about making information look attractive – it is about making complex ideas easier to understand without sacrificing technical accuracy.

What You'll Gain

• Hands-on experience communicating advanced engineering and scientific concepts through visual design.
• Opportunities to collaborate directly with engineers, scientists, and technical professionals.
• Experience developing presentation materials for technical and professional audiences.
• Practical exposure to corporate branding, presentation standards, and document template development.
• Portfolio-worthy experience in technical communication, information design, and visual storytelling.
• Competitive pay
• Free housing for interns at our Massachusetts site, or bonuses at other sites
• Fun summer activities both in and outside the office

Pay Information

Hourly Range: $25.20-$54.00/hour

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, Carlsbad, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STRis committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info.

STRis an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at [e-mail] and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.