Hardware Test Engineer (Summer 2026 Internship)

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.

As a Hardware Test Engineering Intern at Reliable Robotics, you will be a key part of the Hardware Test team. This is a small team of broadly experienced engineers that strive to ensure that all hardware being produced meets the stringent requirements for aviation. Hardware Test Engineers are one of the essential interfaces between the design, production, and flight test teams and are exposed to a wide variety of engineering fields and technical challenges.

You will be creating automated test stands to replicate extreme flight conditions on our hardware and mechanisms that will serve as the backbone of our qualification testing. You will help to break our development hardware, help root-cause the failure modes, and provide critical input in redesigning it. You will be writing the software and building the hardware platforms for the command, control and data collection systems that will test our systems to rigorous aerospace standards.

• Full ownership of the development of mechanical or electrical test stands for development testing, production acceptance testing, functional and environmental qualification testing
• Author, execute, and audit test plans, procedures, and reports
• Work closely with design engineers and flight test engineers to design, build, test and improve flight hardware

• Junior or Senior standing in 4-year college degree program in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering OR equivalent practical experience
• A demonstrated passion for mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical hardware
• Experience using ECAD tools such as Altium or MCAD tools such as NX
• Comfort with basic software scripting in Python, C/C++, or MATLAB
• Working understanding of mechanical and electrical engineering fundamentals (statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, basic circuit design)
• Eagerness for hands-on work - integration of sensors, building harnesses, diagnosing and debugging equipment and hardware

• Hands on application of engineering through classes, clubs, or hobbies
• Familiarity with test instrumentation and data collection methods such as NI DAQ, UEI DAQ, LabJack, etc.
• Working knowledge of measurement and data analysis; ability to clearly present technical data and state its limitations

As a member of our team, you will be a pivotal contributor to the development of novel hardware that will transform the future of flight. From component level thermal testing to instrumenting our aircraft with a sensor suite for flight testing, you will closely interface with many vital parts of our system. The cross-functional nature of this role also lends itself to mentoring opportunities across the entire company. 

Learn more about the internship experience at Reliable Robotics from former interns: link

The position will be located at our facility in Mountain View, California.  The estimated annualized salary for this position is $100,000.  

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]