Instrumentation Engineer - Internship (Summer 2027)

About Nominal

Nominal is building the connected test and operations platform powering the worlds most advanced hardware systems, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation defense programs. Our platform gives hardware engineering teams a single place to ingest data, analyze performance, automate test execution, and collaborate across every phase of development, so they can move faster without sacrificing safety or precision. Were a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software.

We serve top-tier commercial and defense customers, from autonomy leaders like Anduril and Shield AI to next-generation aerospace teams like Hermeus and REGENT, and performance engineering teams like Pratt Miller Motorsports, alongside mission partners within the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force on programs where failure isn't an option. We're backed by Sequoia, General Catalyst, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, and Lightspeed. Our team draws from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Applied Intuition, and other leading companies, united by a common mission: giving hardware engineers the tools to build the future with speed, safety, and confidence.

The role

Were looking for students with solid engineering fundamentals who are interested in a 12-week Summer 2027 internship and on track to graduate in Summer 2028 or sooner.

As an Instrumentation intern at Nominal, youll work at the boundary between software and physical test hardware, helping integrate Nominal solutions in real test stands, hardware instrumentation stacks, and live control systems. Youll write code that talks directly to hardware in the field, whether thats a test stand, a clean room, or an industrial setup, and see your work show up in customer test campaigns within weeks.

What youll do

• Write reliable and performant Python and/or Rust-based software to interface with customer hardware using PyVISA, broad-base industrial protocols, and proprietary vendor SDKs (NI-DAQmx, LabJack, Dewesoft), etc.
• Help automate data collection and control processes across hardware test environments
• Contribute new drivers and instruments to our open-source instrumentation library (instro)
• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with engineers on-site to get test setups running and troubleshoot hardware-software integrations live
• Take ownership of a scoped hardware software integration project from start to finish, with mentorship from our instrumentation and product teams

Reach out if…

• Youre on track to graduate by Summer 2028 and are open to a full-time role afterward
• Youve worked hands-on with data acquisition systems, test instruments (power supplies, eLoads, DMMs, oscilloscopes), embedded hardware, or industrial controllers, whether through coursework, research, or a team like solar car, formula racing, or robotics
• You have strong Python and/or Rust fundamentals, are comfortable reading hardware manuals and communication protocol specs, and have prior experience contributing to open source or building hardware abstraction layers
• You have strong interest in developing software that dictates how high-impact electro-mechanical systems behave in the real world
• Your peers would describe you as ambitious, resourceful, resilient, and persistent when something isnt working

Benefits/Perks

• Receive mentorship from our world-class team
• Trips to co-locate with the team across our different offices
• Free lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks
• A beginning-of-internship swag bag and an end-of-internship intern gift
• In-office hardware lab with a $250 project stipend

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.