Shield AI

Embedded Software Engineering Intern - 2026 Summer Intern

Shield AI • US
PythonC++
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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

Job Description:
Our 2026 Summer Internship program is a wonderful opportunity for rising 2027 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!

The Embedded team contributes to this effort by developing real-time software that controls our advanced UAV while in flight. You will write embedded firmware in C/C++, develop tests and reporters in Python, and work cross-functionally with electrical and mechanical engineers to determine software requirements. Help us save lives as we strive to deliver the most highly reliable aerospace hardware in the industry.

10 Week Project Scope & Description:

  • The general area will be making contributions to our firmware or flight control software codebase by implementing an end-to-end feature.
  • While the specific project scope is not known, it will be derived from our team’s backlog of work. This will ensure that it directly meets business needs.
  • The project will be directly related to embedded software development. The intern will work with full-time engineers to design, implement and test their solution.
  • Required qualifications:

  • You are an undergraduate, graduate or PhD student expected to graduate in December 2026 or Spring 2027.
  • Pursuing a degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science or related STEM field. 
  • Software development expertise in C++
  • Experience with software development on real-time embedded systems (academic or college extracurricular projects are applicable)
  • Experience working on multidisciplinary hardware development projects, which can be from an internship, job, club, team, personal project, etc.
  • Great written and verbal communication.
  • Demonstrated history of showing ownership of project outcomes and delivering exceptional results. 
  • Record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others.