Program Manager Intern

Worker Type

Supplemental

Job Description

Summer Internship Program
Our paid Summer Internship Program is designed to provide students with an immersive, hands-on experience within the aerospace and defense industry. Interns work alongside AV team members on meaningful projects involving cutting-edge technology while developing professional relationships, strategic problem-solving skills, and practical experience in a full-time work environment.

This is a 12-week, onsite program intended for highly motivated and passionate students who are currently enrolled in college or are recent graduates. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, with a preference for students at the junior level or above.

Our program has been recognized by Yello and WayUp as one of the Top 100 Internship Programs in the United States for multiple years.

Depending on the team and location, students who are willing to relocate for their internship may be eligible for a relocation and housing reimbursement stipend.

AV offers internship opportunities across various teams and locations throughout the United States. Specific team, location, and program details will be discussed during the interview process.

The Program Management Office (PMO) is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented intern to contribute to the success of our program management initiatives. This role focuses on supporting the Switchblade product line program management team with process improvement designed to increase operating margin, data management to improve continuity across programs, program controls to increase program management accountability, risk management to address program profitability, and training support to improve business outcomes. The ideal candidate will be proactive, highly organized, and eager to learn in a fast-paced environment. In this role the intern will gain hands-on exposure to how to run a program management office, the business productivity tools, and learning how to communicate and accomplish tasks through a cross-functional team.

Position Responsibilities

• Support continuous improvement initiatives to identify and eliminate waste in program management processes by using lean/six sigma principles.

• Document and implement standardized PMO processes and best practices.

• Create and maintain process documentation, standardized templates, work instructions and training documentation to support consistent program execution.

• Maintain a standard data management structure in SharePoint for all non-technical program documents.

• Support the corporate development of dashboards and reporting mechanisms to track program performance metrics.

• Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and accessibility across program management tools.

• Document program actions during Program Management Reviews and ensure accountability for action item closure.

• Work with program teams to ensure adherence to program management processes.

• Maintain risk registers and ensure timely risk response implementation.

• Monitor and report on risk status and escalate issues as appropriate.

• Support the implementation and rollout of continuous improvement training

• Coordinate training events to ensure smooth execution

• Coordinate onboarding and orientation materials and activities for new PMO staff.

• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program. Concentration in business, operations, supply chain, economics, marketing, or similar degree program.

• 0-1 year of working experience preferred.

• Strong interest in program management, process improvement, and operations.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Good written and verbal communication skills.

• Good analytical, time management and organizational skills.

• Basic computer skills and proficiency with office software and productivity tools.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and multitasking capabilities

• Self-motivated with ability to work independently and as part of a team

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 10 lbs.), bend, etc. Hand and wrist dexterity to utilize the computer.

• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment.

• May require travel between facilities within Simi Valley and Moorpark.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance

• Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.

• May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling or attending test events.

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.

• Must be able to travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally when required.

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required