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Internship Drone Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We build Altra, an AI-powered drone software platform, and HX-2, our autonomous drone. We are ... Collaborating with ML engineers to integrate AI/ML pipelines into the broader system * Working ...

We build Altra, an AI-powered drone software platform, and HX-2, our autonomous drone. We are ... Collaborating with ML engineers to integrate AI/ML pipelines into the broader system * Working ...

UAS Drone Internship

Dayton, OH ยท On-site

$14.50 - $19.50/hr

UAS Drone Internship Matrix is looking for an outstanding student in a UAS Drone Internship ... and software engineering. We support our employees with industry-leading benefits: As an employee ...

New

Embedded Software Engineer

Tampa, FL ยท On-site

$124K - $163K/yr

Description XTEND Tampa is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to support the development, integration, and production of autonomous drone systems. This role focuses on hands-on embedded software ...

Senior Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA ยท On-site

$133K - $176K/yr

About the Role We are looking for experienced energetic software engineers to join our growing team ... Experience with Drone software (such as Ardupilot, Betaflight). * Familiarity with defense software ...

A note before you apply We're hiring Software Engineering Interns! This is a full-time salaried 12 month internship where you'll work closely with our Engineering, Product, and Design teams to build ...

About Us ZeroMark builds AI-driven counter-drone systems that actually work in combat. No ... Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.

Mid Software Engineer

Aberdeen, MD ยท On-site

$103K - $181K/yr

Parsons is seeking an Mid Software Engineer to support our cutting-edge Drone Armor counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) program. The Software Engineer will develop, test, and maintain software in ...

We build Altra, an AI-powered drone software platform, and HX-2, our autonomous drone. We are ... The role You will join the Platform Engineering team as a security-focused engineer responsible for ...

Software Engineer

Denver, CO ยท On-site

$115K - $155K/yr

Company Overview Performance Drone Works (PDW) is building the next generation of tactical robotic ... What You'll Do Our Software Engineer will: * Design, implement, and test software features across ...

We build Altra, an AI-powered drone software platform, and HX-2, our autonomous drone. We are ... The role You will join the Platform Engineering team as a security-focused engineer responsible for ...

Sr. Systems Engineer, Prime Air

Seattle, WA

$118K - $162K/yr

Amazon Prime Air (PA) is seeking a Sr Systems Engineer to oversee the development hardware and software integration within our ultra-fast drone delivery operations. This role will be responsible for ...

Sr. Systems Engineer, Prime Air

Seattle, WA

$118K - $162K/yr

Amazon Prime Air (PA) is seeking a Sr Systems Engineer to oversee the development hardware and software integration within our ultra-fast drone delivery operations. This role will be responsible for ...

Software Engineer (iOS)

Sausalito, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $170K/yr

... drone systems. This is a mission-critical role where your work directly translates our backend ... software engineering practices. * Experience with Git and standard development workflows (code ...

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Internship Drone Software Engineer information

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How much do internship drone software engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship drone software engineer in the United States is $25.42, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.67 and $28.85 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Internship Drone Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Internship Drone Software Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science or engineering, familiarity with programming languages like Python or C++, and a basic understanding of robotics or embedded systems. Experience with simulation tools such as Gazebo, version control systems like Git, and knowledge of APIs or SDKs for drones is highly valuable. Strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and effective teamwork help interns excel in dynamic project environments. These skills ensure you can contribute to innovative drone solutions while learning quickly and collaborating efficiently with multidisciplinary teams.

What types of projects and responsibilities can an Internship Drone Software Engineer expect to work on during their internship?

As an Internship Drone Software Engineer, you can expect to contribute to a range of projects involving the development, testing, and optimization of drone software systems. Typical responsibilities may include writing code for flight control, participating in simulations, assisting with hardware integration, and troubleshooting software issues. Interns often work closely with experienced engineers and multidisciplinary teams, gaining hands-on experience while learning industry-standard tools and practices. This role provides valuable exposure to both autonomous systems and real-world deployment scenarios, which can be a strong foundation for future roles in robotics or aerospace engineering.

What is the difference between Internship Drone Software Engineer vs Drone Software Engineer?

AspectInternship Drone Software EngineerDrone Software Engineer
QualificationsEnrolled in or recent graduate of relevant degree (CS, EE)Bachelor's or higher in related field, experience preferred
Work EnvironmentInternship programs, mentorship, entry-level tasksFull-time, professional setting, complex projects
ResponsibilitiesAssist in software development, testing, data analysisDesign, develop, and maintain drone software systems
Industry UsageTraining, entry-level roles, skill developmentOperational, R&D, product development in drone industry

The main difference between an Internship Drone Software Engineer and a Drone Software Engineer is experience level and responsibilities. Internships focus on learning, assisting, and gaining industry exposure, while Drone Software Engineers handle complex development tasks and have more autonomy. Internships are ideal for students or recent graduates, whereas full-time engineers typically have more experience and responsibilities.

What does an Internship Drone Software Engineer do?

An Internship Drone Software Engineer assists in developing and testing software that controls drones, such as flight algorithms, navigation, and data processing systems. Interns typically work under the guidance of experienced engineers, contributing to coding, debugging, and integration tasks. They may also help with simulation, troubleshooting real-world drone issues, and collaborating with hardware teams to ensure seamless operation. This role provides hands-on experience in both software development and the rapidly growing field of unmanned aerial vehicles.
More about Internship Drone Software Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Internship Drone Software Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Internship Drone Software Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Drone Software Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Drone Software Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Internship Drone Software Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Internship Drone Software Engineer jobs include:

Software Engineer, Rust

Helsing

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Who we are
Helsing develops artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities to protect and defend democracies. We build Altra, an AI-powered drone software platform, and HX-2, our autonomous drone. We are growing our US operations, cultivating an ambitious and committed team of mission-driven professionals to apply their skills to solve challenging problems.
The role
You will work on Altra, Helsing's drone software platform, primarily written in Rust. You will design and build systems-level software that powers autonomous capabilities in challenging operational environments. You don't need to be a drone expert - but you should be a strong systems programmer who thrives in low-latency, high-reliability environments and is excited to apply those skills to a mission-critical product.
The day-to-day
  • Designing, building, and maintaining Rust services across the Altra platform
  • Collaborating with ML engineers to integrate AI/ML pipelines into the broader system
  • Working across the stack, from networking and protocol implementation to application-level services
  • Contributing to increasingly advanced autonomy features
  • Developing and testing software using simulation environments
  • Writing software that must perform reliably on resource-constrained platforms under real-world constraints
You should apply if you
  • Have 5+ years of experience in systems-level software engineering
  • Have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
  • Are proficient in Rust, or have strong experience in C++ or another systems-level compiled language with a willingness to work in Rust daily
  • Have experience building distributed systems, particularly in unreliable or constrained network environments
  • Have worked with real-time or low-latency systems where performance and reliability are critical
  • Have experience with at least one or two areas relevant to our stack: video streaming, pub/sub messaging, sensor data processing, embedded systems, protocol design, or robotics
  • Have designed or built systems that interface with AI/ML pipelines - streaming data to models, handling inference outputs, managing pipeline orchestration
  • Are familiar with Python, particularly for interfacing with ML/AI components
  • Are a U.S. citizen eligible to obtain a security clearance
Nice to have
  • Direct experience with Rust in production systems
  • Background in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or drone systems
  • Experience with sensor fusion or multi-sensor data processing
  • Familiarity with swarming, multi-agent systems, or decentralized coordination algorithms
  • Experience with constrained or embedded platforms
  • Familiarity with Nix or NixOS for reproducible builds and development environments
  • Experience with SITL/HITL (Software/Hardware-In-The-Loop) simulation and testing frameworks for autonomous systems
  • Experience with RF communications, telemetry, or datalink systems
  • Background in defense or national security

Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields
  • Helsing's work is important. You'll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns
  • The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world
  • Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defense industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward
  • In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts
  • We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practice responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn't work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about
What we offer
  • A focus on outcomes, not time-tracking
  • A generous compensation and benefits package (in addition to base salary) that includes, but may not be limited to, insurance coverage (medical and travel), flexible paid time off, paid holidays, and remote and/or hybrid work available depending on position. All compensation and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying plans or programs, as applicable and as may be amended, terminated or superseded from time to time.

Helsing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.
Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.