Spring 2025 Autonomous Lab Intern

We are seeking technical interns for our 2025 SPRING Internship Program. Interns will be expected to work 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. This spring internship will be extended until the end of summer 2025.

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. 

• 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.  

• 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). 

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

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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.

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 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in our benefit programs. Other offerings may be provided for employees not within this category. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Benefits page on our Careers site.

Compensation at Noblis is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, internal and external equity, location, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements and applicable employment laws. The projected compensation range for this position is based on full time status. For part time or on-call staff, compensation is proportionately adjusted based on hours worked. While monetary compensation is important, it's just one component of Noblis’ total compensation package.

Noblis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race (as well as because of or on the basis of traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

Noblis is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Noblis will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact employee-relations@noblis.org.