Automation Controls Engineering Intern
Archer is an aerospace company based in San Jose, California building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a mission to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. We are designing, manufacturing, and operating an all-electric aircraft that can carry four passengers while producing minimal noise.
Our sights are set high and our problems are hard, and we believe that diversity in the workplace is what makes us smarter, drives better insights, and will ultimately lift us all to success. We are dedicated to cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment that embraces our differences, and supports and celebrates all of our team members.
This internship is a part of a 10-week full-time summer internship program opportunity. This role will be based at Archer’s headquarters in San Jose, California and relocation or housing will not be provided.
Archer is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented intern to join Archer. This internship provides a hands-on opportunity to gain practical experience within the Automation Controls Engineering team. You’ll implement several process improvement projects. The projects will involve technical tasks such as improving HMI screens and making supervised changes to a PLC program for the manufacturing lines.
What You’ll Do:
- Support the design, assembly, and debugging of equipment and small-scale builds, including hardware selection and basic programming.
- Develop and modify HMI screens using Ignition to improve operator experience and assist with MES interface validation.
- Assist engineers with the installation, commissioning, and qualification of new high-volume production equipment.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot live production lines and identify areas for process improvement.
- Create detailed technical documentation including red-lining electrical diagrams, organizing Confluence pages.
- Participate in design reviews to learn about machine safety, electrical controls, and hardware standardization.
What You Need:
- Sophomore or Junior in Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Coursework or project experience with PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Beckhoff) and understanding of structured logic.
- Familiarity with HMI/GUI design or Python scripting; prior exposure to Ignition is a strong plus.
- Ability to read and understand electrical schematics and familiarity with CAD tools like AutoCAD Electrical or E-Plan.
- Academic exposure to robotic programming (Fanuc, Kuka, or ABB) or machine vision systems (Cognex, Keyence) is preferred.
- Basic understanding of SQL databases and how they interact with hardware or data acquisition systems.
- Strong logical thinking skills and a self-driven, hands-on attitude toward troubleshooting and learning new industrial standards.
Summer 2026 Internship Program Details:
- This internship is a part of a 10-week full-time summer internship program opportunity. Program dates are:
- May 26, 2026 - July 31, 2026
- June 15, 2026 - August 21, 2026
- *We will not be able to accommodate interns outside of these two program dates.
- This role will be based at Archer San Jose.
- Relocation and housing will not be provided.
Please note that this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications.
At Archer we aim to attract, retain, and motivate talent that possess the skills and leadership necessary to grow our business. We drive a pay-for-performance culture and reward performance that supports the Company’s business strategy. For this position we are targeting a base pay between $25.00 - $35.00 per hour. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Archer is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with physical or mental disabilities, and those with sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who may require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should provide their name and contact information to Archer’s People Team at people@archer.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.