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Summer 2027 - Software Engineer Intern

Shield AI

San Diego / CA / USA

Onsite

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About this role

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Our Summer Internship program is a wonderful opportunity for Fall and Spring graduates to immerse themselves in an innovative and mission driven culture. Our 10-week paid internship program will provide you with hands on mentorship, an opportunity to add real contribution to our company via your internship project, and a possible job offer at the end. You will have the chance to make lifelong friendships, expand your network, and learn all about what it's like to work in a high-growth, fast scaling tech unicorn. You'll take part in company sponsored events and enjoy exploring a new city. Read on below to learn more about this unique internship!

About the Role

Shield AI's Software Development Engineer Intern program spans engineers who design, build, and test the code that powers our autonomous systems — from user-facing applications and embedded flight software to machine learning models and the underlying systems platforms that tie it all together. Over 10–12 weeks, interns work alongside full-time engineers to analyze requirements, write and debug production-quality code, and ship a real feature or capability using our standard Agile development practices.

Example Intern Projects

Applications: Build a new feature or internal tool (web, mobile, or desktop) that streamlines a mission-planning or fleet-management workflow.

Firmware/Embedded: Develop and debug embedded C/C++ code for a flight controller or sensor module, including bring-up and hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Machine Learning: Train, evaluate, and integrate a perception or decision-making model (e.g., object detection, sensor fusion) into an autonomy pipeline.

Systems Development: Extend a platform tool, API, or data pipeline that supports autonomy software, simulation, or cloud infrastructure.

Required Qualifications

Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (e.g., C, C++, Python, Java, or JavaScript)
Solid foundation in data structures, algorithms, and software design principles
Experience writing, testing, and debugging code, whether through coursework, personal projects, or prior internships
Familiarity with version control (e.g., Git) and collaborative development workflows
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to break down ambiguous requirements into working code
Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment

Preferred Qualifications

Exposure to mobile or web application frameworks and full-stack development
Hands-on experience with embedded systems, microcontrollers, real-time operating systems, or assembly-level debugging
Coursework or projects involving machine learning, statistics, probability theory, or deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow)
Experience with cloud platforms, databases, networking, or distributed systems
Familiarity with Agile/Scrum development methodologies
Prior internship, research, or club/competition experience in robotics, autonomy, or aerospace applications
Interest in or exposure to the defense, aerospace, or autonomous systems industry

Additional Information

#intern

Shield AI is proud to offer competitive pay and a housing stipend for qualified hires. While our People Experience team provides resources and assistance, interns are responsible to find their own housing and travel to and from their office location.

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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Compensation

$37 - $97

$37- $97 an hour - Your salary will be determined by academic level.

Pay is just one part of your total rewards package at Shield AI. You may also be eligible for a stipend to subsidize relocation costs. As an intern, you will receive the opportunity to attend presentations from company leaders, social and networking events, as well as mentorship from current Shield AI Engineers. Interns are also eligible for paid company holidays.

Skills & Technologies

C++ Python Deep Learning Sensor Fusion Embedded Systems

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Job Details

Company: Shield AI
Location: San Diego / CA / USA
Work Type: Onsite
Posted: September 08, 2026
Source freshness: Seen on employer source 3h ago

About Shield AI

Shield AI is building the world's best AI pilot. Their Hivemind AI powers autonomous aircraft for defense applications, enabling drones to fly missions in GPS-denied environments without communications.

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