Supplier Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

We're building safety-enhancing technology for aviation that will save lives. Automated aviation systems will enable a future where air transportation is safer, more convenient and fundamentally transformative to the way goods — and eventually people — move around the planet. We are a team of mission-driven engineers with experience across aerospace, robotics and self-driving cars working to make this future a reality.

We are seeking an ambitious, multi-disciplinary Supplier Engineering Intern to support the industrialization, qualification, and operational scaling of mission-critical aerospace hardware. In this role, you will bridge design engineering and external manufacturing partners, overseeing high-reliability avionics electronics, precision-machined mechanical hardware, and other hardware required for electro-mechanical assemblies (e.g., actuators, air-to-air radars, flight computers, etc.). You will gain hands-on aerospace production experience applying Design for Excellence (DFx), GD&T verification, precision metrology, statistical process control, and supplier quality frameworks to ensure all flight hardware meets rigorous airworthiness and reliability standards.

Responsibilities

• Design for Excellence (DFx): Partner with mechanical and electrical engineers on DFM, DFA, and DFT reviews to optimize tooling, tolerances, component footprints, and producibility.

• Supplier Industrialization: Support manufacturing line ramp-up across CNC machining, plating/coating, electro-mechanical actuator assembly, SMT, underfill, potting, and enclosures.

• Risk & Quality Planning: Participate in Process FMEAs, Control Plans, and Gage R&R studies to mitigate supplier manufacturing risks early.

• Qualification & Verification: Track part qualifications via Line Proofing, PPAP, and AS9102 First Article Inspections (FAIs).

• Technical Assessments & Sourcing: Assist with technical capability audits and risk evaluations of machine shops, platers, and electronics manufacturers against AS9100 and industry standards.

• Receiving & Inspection (RIPs): Draft incoming inspection plans and define verification criteria for raw materials, machined parts, PCBs, and PCBAs.

• Metrology & Test: Support incoming inspection using CMM, optical comparators, surface profilometers, AOI, AXI, and cross-sectioning.

• SPC & Traceability: Help deploy statistical sampling plans, track capability metrics, and ensure complete traceability.

• RCCA & Yield Optimization: Assist with root cause investigations (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone) for machining, assembly, and test defects; drive mistake-proofing (Poka-Yoke) and First Pass Yield (FPY) gains.

Basic Success Criteria

• Current undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Electrical, or Mechatronics Engineering (Junior or Senior standing preferred).

• Demonstrated hands-on hardware experience through collegiate engineering teams (e.g., Formula SAE, DBF, Baja, AIAA, Robotics), student maker spaces, personal technical projects, or a prior engineering internship.

• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret mechanical engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, or electrical schematics.

• Foundational proficiency in 3D CAD modeling (e.g., Siemens NX, SolidWorks).

• Comfort working actively on the production floor with hand tools, shop equipment, and basic diagnostic hardware (torque tools, multimeters, oscilloscopes).

• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs and navigate an active manufacturing floor environment.

Preferred Success Criteria

• Familiarity with aerospace/electronics manufacturing quality standards (e.g., IPC/WHMA-A-620, IPC-A-610, AS9100).

• Exposure to enterprise engineering software such as Altium Designer, Siemens NX, and PLM/MES platforms (e.g., Teamcenter, Manufacturo).

• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T per ASME Y14.5) and basic tolerance stack-up analysis.

• Understanding of Lean Manufacturing and structured problem-solving methodologies (5S, Poka-Yoke, 5-Whys, Fishbone, 8D).

This position requires access to information that is subject to U.S. export controls. An offer of employment will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to perform in compliance with U.S. export control laws. All applicants are asked to provide documentation that legally establishes status as a U.S. person or non-U.S. person (and nationalities in the case of a non-U.S. person). Where the applicant is not a U.S. person, meaning not a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident, (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or not otherwise permitted to access the export-controlled technology without U.S. government authorization, the Company reserves the right not to apply for an export license for such applicants whose access to export-controlled technology or software source code requires authorization and may decline to proceed with the application process and any offer of employment on that basis. At Reliable Robotics, our goal is to be a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, ancestry, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability or medical conditions, national origin, military or veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment and promotion is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to [email protected]