Mechanical Engineering Intern, 2027

Allen Control Systems; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

ACS Equity Package

Health, Dental, Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Allen Control Systems in Austin, TX is offering a Summer 2027 internship for Mechanical Engineering students. This on-site program spans roughly 10-12 weeks and emphasizes hands-on hardware work on precision robotic systems, with real engineering responsibility rather than coffee runs.

You’ll design, CAD, prototype, and test mechanical subsystems, collaborating closely with electrical and manufacturing teams to move concepts to production-ready hardware.

Qualifications

• Hands-on CAD experience from coursework or clubs (SolidWorks, etc.)
• Interest in precision mechanisms, robotics, or electromechanical systems
• Willingness to work in a shop or lab environment

Responsibilities

• Develop mechanical systems for turret with real-world tracking and firing conditions
• Perform CAD design, tolerancing, and structural/thermal analysis for hardware
• Prototype and test designs from CAD to range
• Collaborate with electrical and manufacturing teams to move concepts to production-ready hardware

Skills

Hands-on mindset

Interest in robotics

Attention to precision mechanisms

Education

Pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks CAD

Job description

Company Overview

ACS (Allen Control Systems) is a defense technology company building precision robotic systems for the United States and its allies. Founded by two former U.S. Navy electrical engineers with deep experience in robotics and software, ACS brings together AI, computer vision, precision motion, and advanced hardware to solve complex defense challenges across land, air, and maritime environments.

Our flagship product, Bullfrog, is an autonomous precision weapon system that transforms existing weapons into highly accurate counter-drone systems — giving warfighters a scalable, cost-effective response to one of the fastest-growing threats on the modern battlefield. Bullfrog is deployed with U.S. forces, and ACS works with organizations throughout the U.S. military and national security community.

Following a $200 million Series B at a $2.2 billion valuation, ACS is rapidly expanding manufacturing, accelerating Bullfrog deployments, and developing the next generation of autonomous battlefield systems. This is an opportunity to join a proven, fast-moving team and help scale technology with direct, real-world impact on national security.

ACS is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with additional operations in Alexandria, Virginia; Mountain View, California; and Huntsville, Alabama. For more information, visit allencontrolsystems.com.

Our interns aren't fetching coffee or shadowing — they're working alongside the same engineers building the systems we ship. This is early-career work with real stakes.

Location: Austin, TX (on-site)

Duration: Summer 2027 (~10-12 wks)

Pay: Paid internship

Team: Small, hands-on, direct impact

What You Could Work On:

• Mechanical systems for a turret that has to track and fire accurately under real-world conditions
• CAD design, tolerancing, and structural or thermal analysis for hardware that gets built and tested, not just rendered
• Prototyping and testing — you'll see your designs go from CAD to the range
• Close collaboration with electrical and manufacturing teams to get designs from concept to production-ready

(We're keeping this general on purpose — exact projects depend on where things stand next summer, but this is the flavor of work you'd be doing.)

What We're Looking For:

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• CAD experience (SolidWorks or similar) from coursework, projects, or clubs (FSAE, robotics teams, etc.)
• Interest in precision mechanisms, robotics, or electromechanical systems
• A hands-on mindset — comfortable in a shop or lab, not just at a workstation

Why ACS:

• Direct impact: your work ships on hardware being fielded to protect real people — not stuck in a slide deck.
• Real ownership: no red tape. You'll work directly with the engineers building Bullfrog, from day one.
• Small team, big scope: at a startup this size, interns take on real problems, not busywork.
• Mentorship from engineers who've designed and fielded real defense systems.

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay
• ACS Equity Package
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off

Allen Control Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer, providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Allen Control Systems prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.