Software Systems Validation Intern (Spring 2027)

As a Software Systems Validation Intern, you will help evaluate the software that enables Zipline's autonomous drone delivery system. You'll contribute to building tests, tools, metrics, and visualizations that help the team understand system performance, identify issues, and ensure reliability before flight. This role is designed for someone excited to learn how complex robotic systems are validated, who enjoys problem-solving, and who wants to build real-world experience working with autonomy software, data analysis, and systems engineering.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and execution of test scenarios across the autonomous software stack to validate system-level requirements
• Help develop and improve validation tools, workflows, and automation
• Build visualizations or metrics that highlight performance trends, gaps, or regressions
• Work with test infrastructure and data platform teams to run validation pipelines
• Analyze results and contribute to identifying root causes of failures or unexpected behavior
• Document findings and communicate insights to engineering stakeholders

Requirements

• You must have completed the second year of your undergraduate studies in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field. Masters and PhD students are also eligible
• Coursework or project experience in robotics, controls, estimation, navigation, perception, or software development
• Familiarity with testing, debugging, or validation methodologies (academic or project-based experience counts!)
• Experience with data analysis using Python, SQL, or similar
• Basic proficiency with a compiled language such as C/C++ or Rust
• Curiosity, attention to detail, and a desire to learn how autonomous systems are validated in real-world environments

Nice to have

• Exposure to hardware, actuators, sensors, and interfacing with software
• Experience with robotics competitions, club projects, or research labs
• Interest in requirements development, reliability engineering, or statistical validation

Benefits

• The hourly rate for this internship is $54 per hour. Additional benefits may include relocation support, a housing stipend, overtime pay, paid sick time, and other benefits, where applicable and subject to local requirements.