Washington Operations Intern

AeroVironment, Inc.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Relocation and housing reimbursement (

ITAR/compliance training

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is offering a Washington Operations Intern position in Arlington, VA to support government relations and marketing efforts. The role involves compiling daily analyses of political news, regulatory activities, and updates on defense authorization and appropriations.

The internship is onsite, requires a 3.0+ GPA, and seeks candidates pursuing Political Science, Public Policy, or related fields with strong research and writing skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, or related field.
• Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Strong interest in government relations, public policy, and advocacy.
• Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills, with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with legislative processes and government organization.

Responsibilities

• Support the Legislative Affairs team with content creation, knowledge management, briefing materials, and engagement tracking.
• Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory activities, including congressional hearings and meetings.
• Assist with planning and preparation for executive engagements in the Washington, DC area.
• Assist with planning and preparation for visits by Members of Congress and staff to AV facilities.
• Help coordinate the execution of the AV Political Action Committee.
• Support AV’s legislative affairs strategy to facilitate strategic business growth initiatives, including engagement strategy with Members of Congress, Committees, and other stakeholders to increase support for AV customer programs.

Skills

Research skills

Writing skills

Analytical skills

MS Office

Education

Pursuing degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Worker Type Supplemental Job Description Summer Internship Program Our paid Summer Internship Program is designed to provide students with an immersive, hands‑on experience within the aerospace and defense industry. Interns work alongside AV team members on meaningful projects involving cutting‑edge technology while developing professional relationships, strategic problem‑solving skills, and practical experience in a full‑time work environment. This is a 12‑week, onsite program intended for highly motivated and passionate students who are currently enrolled in college or are recent graduates. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, with a preference for students at the junior level or above. Our program has been recognized by Yello and WayUp as one of the Top 100 Internship Programs in the United States for multiple years. Depending on the team and location, students who are willing to relocate for their internship may be eligible for a relocation and housing reimbursement stipend. AV offers internship opportunities across various teams and locations throughout the United States. Specific team, location, and program details will be discussed during the interview process.

Summary AV is seeking a Washington Operations Intern to support our government relations and marketing efforts in Arlington, VA. This on‑site role involves compiling daily analyses of political news, legislative and regulatory activities, and updates on defense authorization and appropriations. The intern will assist the Legislative Affairs Manager with all congressional activities, helping AV educate and advocate within the federal resource allocation process.

Position Responsibilities

• Support the Legislative Affairs team with content creation, knowledge management, briefing materials, and engagement tracking.
• Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory activities, including congressional hearings and meetings.
• Assist with planning and preparation for executive engagements in the Washington, DC area.
• Assist with planning and preparation for visits by Members of Congress and staff to AV facilities.
• Help coordinate the execution of the AV Political Action Committee.
• Support AV’s legislative affairs strategy to facilitate strategic business growth initiatives, including engagement strategy with Members of Congress, Committees, and other stakeholders to increase support for AV customer programs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Currently pursuing a degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, or related field.
• Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in current degree program.
• Strong interest in government relations, public policy, and advocacy.
• Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills, as well as attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Previous internship experience, to include interactions with business managers and customers.
• Familiarity with legislative processes and government organization.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements

U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) is required. Occasional travel may be required within the Continental U.S.

Clearance Level

No Clearance

Salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits

• AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.

For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits. We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

About AV: AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission‑obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI‑powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans.

AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants.

Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR U.S. Citizenship required

About AV: AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission‑obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI‑powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

Careers at AeroVironment