Summer 2025 Autonomous Lab Intern

Responsibilities

We are seeking technical interns for our 2025 Summer Internship Program. Interns will be expected to work either in the Noblis Autonomous Systems Lab in Reston, VA or at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in Blacksburg, VA performing hands-on robotics and programming work as part of a small team that delivers advanced autonomous prototypes. 

Responsibilities  

This internship will provide an opportunity to work with a technical team of experienced roboticists. 

Interns are full project members that work on small, mainly self-directed, subprojects of a larger prototype project. Interns can expect to develop experience working within small programming/engineering teams in a workplace environment. On the technical side they will grow in their understanding of mechanical design, Autodesk Fusion, Python, C++, Linux, Robot Operating System (ROS), microcontrollers, machine learning/vision, and topics in autonomous robotics including perception, sensor fusion, SLAM, localization and autonomous navigation. 

The ideal candidate has experience with rapid prototyping and prior exposure to robotics. Experience in one or more of programming, machine learning, Robot Operating System (ROS), Computer Aided Design (CAD), and robotics is recommended. 

Required Qualifications

• US Citizen
• 3.3 GPA 
• Pursuing degree in computer science, engineering, computering engineering, or related 
• Experience with rapid prototyping of electronics, software, or mechanical prototypes. 

• Strong self-organization and self-management skills, with emphasis on self-initiation and follow through  

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.  

Desired Qualifications

• Robotics: 

• Candidate can write Robot Operating System code. Candidate can design nodes that communicate over topics and services. 

• Candidate understands theoretical topics, like control theory (PID) and object tracking (e.g. Kalman filter). 

• Software: 

• Candidate has experience using version control (Git) and automated tests.  

• Candidate can implement software with multi-threading and networking in Python or C++. 

• Artificial Intelligence: 

• Candidate can implement and train neural networks. Candidate understands concepts like overfitting, why activation functions are nonlinear, the purpose of data augmentation. 

• Candidate can implement basic search algorithms, like A*. 

• Mechanical: 

• Candidate has experience machining or printing prototypes. 

• Candidate is familiar with a CAD program, such as Autodesk or SolidWorks. 

• Electronics: 

• Candidate can build circuits with actuators and sensors. 

• Candidate has familiarity with basic electronics equipment: multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies. 

• Candidate understands common microcontroller protocols: UART, SPI, I2C. 

• GNU/Linux Experience: 

• Candidate can install and configure Linux based operating systems. 

• Candidate is comfortable with a command line interface and related tools (GNU Core Utilities). 

Overview

Noblis and our wholly owned subsidiaries, Noblis ESI, and Noblis MSD tackle the nation's toughest problems and apply advanced solutions to our clients' most critical missions. We bring the best of scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Noblis works with a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors. Learn more at Noblis -About Us

 

Why work at a Noblis company?

Our employees find greater meaning in their work and balance the other things in life that matter to them. Our people are our greatest asset. They are exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable, team-oriented, and mission-driven individuals who want to do work that matters and benefits the public. Noblis has won numerous workplace awards. Noblis maintains a drug-free workplace.

Salary Range Explanation

At Noblis we recognize and reward your contributions, provide you with growth opportunities, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, and work-life programs. Our award programs acknowledge employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our service standards. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 2