Sensor Electrical Engineering Co-op (Spring 2027)

draper; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-life balance programs

Discounts to local museums

Employee clubs

Job summary

Draper in Cambridge, MA seeks Sensor Electrical Engineering co-ops and interns to support R&D of precision inertial guidance instruments. You’ll work with senior staff on prototyping, analysis, and modeling across sensor systems, PCBs, and digital processing blocks.

You will learn through hands-on design, testing, and communication of results in memos and presentations, with several system forms including MEMS accelerometers and FPGA-based processing.

Qualifications

• Scripting and modeling in MATLAB, Simulink, LabVIEW and related tools.
• Experience with SPICE, CST, COMSOL, ANSYS HFSS/SIwave simulation suites.
• Digital/FPGA design tools such as Vivado and Libero are familiar.
• Board and chip design tool sets like Cadence and Mentor Graphics.
• Understanding of signal integrity, grounding, and PCB layout best practices.
• Hands-on electronics design, testing, and debugging experience.

Skills

MATLAB & Simulink

LabVIEW

Simulation tools

Digital/FPGA design basics

Digital signal processing

Electronics design & debugging

Education

US citizen enrolled in accredited engineering curriculum

Tools

Xilinx Vivado

Microsemi Libero

Cadence

Mentor Graphics

Job description

Overview:

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com .

Job Description Summary:

Sensor Electrical Engineering Co-Ops and Interns at Draper will primarily support the research and development of precision inertial guidance instruments for next-generation guidance applications. Successful candidates are self-starters and team-players with a desire to learn new things and advance technology while working with our results-oriented teams. This position will directly impact the national security of the United States of America and push the boundaries of what is technically possible.

Successful candidates will be matched with an appropriate team based on their skills and experience. Students will have the opportunity to work with senior technical staff on various programs and will be expected to effectively communicate their work both orally and in written memos and presentations. As a student you will participate in all aspects of the product development process including design and prototyping, analysis and simulation, and modeling and test. You may work on various system types including the following:

• Instrumentation electronics including low-noise operational amplifiers, analog to digital & digital to analog converters, and analog filtering
• State-of-the-art accelerometers, gyroscopes and other novel sensors in various form factors including MEMS.
• Layout, routing, integration, and test of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)
• Digital systems that utilize FPGAs, Microcontrollers and ASICs to implement algorithms for signal, image, and data processing

DURATION:

This position will run for 6 months, from January through June of 2027.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Students must be US citizens who are enrolled in an accredited engineering curriculum. Candidates will be matched to a group based on their relevant experience and interests. Below is a list of broad qualifications sought across the division. Candidates are not expected to have every skill listed but should have experience with two or more of the following:
• Scripting and modeling in MATLAB, Simulink, Labview, etc.
• Simulation tools such as SPICE, CST, COMSOL, and ANSYS HFSS/SIwave
• Digital/FPGA design tools, such as Xilinx Vivado and Microsemi Libero
• Board & chip design tool sets, such as Cadence and Mentor Graphics
• Signal integrity, layout, and grounding design principles
• Digital signal processing, classical controls, and/or modern controls
• Hands on experience in digital and/or analog electronics design, test, and debug

* Due to the nature of the work at Draper, US Citizenship status is required. Draper is unable to sponsor or hire individuals holding H1B or Student Visas. Dual-citizens are unable to be accepted for this position.

Job Location

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-3563

Salary

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $20.00 - $45.00 Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Benefits and Work-Life Balance

• Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Inclusive Environment

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance