Perception Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)

About Andrenam We’re building sonar and sensing systems that bring light to the last dark domain: the ocean. Our team includes alumni from SpaceX, Anduril, ABL, Palantir and Qualia. We build full-stack—from physics to perception to product—with speed, elegance, and an unwavering commitment to the mission.

We believe the maritime domain will define the next century of economics, geopolitics, and global security. We're here to shape it.

About this role Andrenam is seeking a Perception Engineer Intern to join our team and work on how our systems make sense of the ocean around them. This is a hands-on internship focused on developing and testing algorithms that turn sonar and other sensor data into information that operators or autonomous systems can act on.

You won't be sitting on the sidelines. You'll take on a real, scoped project that supports our core perception work, work directly alongside the engineers who build it, and get regular feedback and mentorship as you go. You'll get real experience working with noisy, real-world data from systems deployed in harsh marine environments.

We're looking for students who are hungry to learn, love building things, and want to see their work running on real systems.

What you’ll do Perception Development:

• Help develop, test, and improve perception algorithms using sonar and other sensor data, with guidance from the team.
• Own a scoped project that supports our core perception pipeline.
• Work with real data collected from our systems in the field.

Test and Evaluation:

• Evaluate algorithm performance against real-world data and help identify where it falls short.
• Support integration of perception software with the rest of our systems.
• Troubleshoot issues and work with the team to understand root cause and fixes.

Collaboration and Growth:

• Work closely with our engineers, taking feedback and iterating quickly.
• Share progress clearly and ask questions early.
• Document your work, results, and decisions so the team can build on it after your internship.

Location Work full-time onsite from our Torrance, CA office

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, or a related field.
• Programming experience in Python or C++.
• Coursework or project experience in computer vision, signal processing, or machine learning, with at least one project you can walk through in detail.
• Strong problem-solving instincts and a willingness to dig into unfamiliar problems.
• Clear communication and a track record of working well with others.

Nice to have

• Experience working with real sensor data (sonar, camera, radar, or lidar).
• Experience implementing a signal processing or machine learning algorithm for a real-time application.
• Experience implementing solutions either on an embedded device (micro controller or embedded linux) or in the cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure, etc).
• Experience on a student engineering team such as underwater robotics, autonomous vehicles, or similar design-build competitions.
• Interest in maritime systems, autonomy, or defense technology.

Why join us? Andrenam is an innovative, mission-driven company at the intersection of maritime autonomy and defense. We offer:

• Competitive salary
• Lunch and snacks provided in office
• Access to a unique work environment, blending technology, maritime, and defense.

Salary Range $30-$40/hour

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Andrenam's total compensation package. Additionally, Andrenam offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Disclosures This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). You must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State without sponsorship for an export license. Andrenam is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.