Software Engineer Intern

Location: San Diego, CA (Onsite)

About Shield AI:
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Our technology portfolio includes Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. Shield AI supports worldwide operations with offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Learn more at www.shield.ai.

Internship Overview

Shield AI’s internship program is your opportunity to immerse yourself in a mission-driven, innovative culture. Over 10-12 weeks, you will engage in hands-on engineering experiences, contribute to impactful projects, and learn what it’s like to work in a high-growth tech company. Our interns benefit from direct mentorship, company-sponsored events, and the potential for a future job offer.

Role Summary

As a Software Engineer Intern at Shield AI, you will collaborate with teams focused on autonomy, computer vision, simulation, robotics, backend/full-stack development, and data engineering. Project teams may include engineers working on Hivemind’s detection/tracking/mapping, simulation platforms, robotic autonomy, or internal developer tools. Your exact responsibilities will depend on your background, interests, and team needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop tools and features in Python, C++, or other languages for autonomy, perception, simulation, or internal infrastructure.

• Analyze, process, and visualize real-world or simulated data (from sensors, cameras, aircraft, or simulation environments).

• Contribute to automated testing, validation, and performance evaluation for autonomy and AI system components.

• Help design and build infrastructure related to data pipelines, developer workflows, or CI/CD systems.

• Assist with debugging, error reproduction, and documentation for ongoing software projects.

• Support machine learning, computer vision, or robotics projects through data preparation, annotation workflows, or evaluation metrics.

• Participate in code reviews, technical discussions, and collaborative team processes.

• Clearly document your work to ensure reproducibility and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

Required:

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Robotics, Data Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field.

• Programming experience in Python, C++, or similar languages (coursework, research, projects, or internships).

• Familiarity with software development fundamentals: source control (e.g., Git), debugging, testing, and documentation.

• Ability to work onsite in San Diego, CA for the duration of the program.

• Interest in one or more of the following: robotics, autonomy, computer vision, simulation, data analysis, developer tooling, or AI.

• Willingness to learn, ask questions, and contribute as a team player.

Preferred:

• Experience with software development in a collaborative/team environment.

• Exposure to robotics frameworks, simulation tools, or computer vision/machine learning libraries (e.g., ROS, TensorFlow, PyTorch, OpenCV, NumPy/pandas, etc.).

• Familiarity with cloud computing or large-scale data infrastructure.

• Participation in robotics teams, research labs, hackathons, or significant personal software projects.

• Experience with rapid prototyping, testing, or deployment in a dynamic engineering environment.

Program Details

• Term: Typically 10–12 weeks during Summer (with potential for other terms)

• Schedule: Full-time, onsite

• Location: San Diego, CA

• Compensation: Competitive pay and housing stipend. Interns arrange their own travel and housing; Shield AI provides support and resources.

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on engineering experience in autonomy, robotics, or AI.

• Exposure to production software practices, from prototyping to deployment.

• Opportunity to work closely with experts in defense tech and advanced autonomy.

• Network-building, mentorship, and potential for post-graduation opportunities.

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 need accommodation, please let us know.

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