Acoustic and Vibration Technologies Intern

About the Role

Draper's Acoustic and Vibration Technologies group is seeking current undergraduate and graduate students to assist in the engineering of technology that solves critical problems of national importance. As an Acoustic Hardware Development intern, you will focus on the research and development of novel sensing and communication systems, including constituent sensors, electronics, and signal processing.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and enhancement engineering solutions for challenging problems.
• Implement, test, perform analysis, and provide documentation support.
• Generate and present test reports including plots, tables, evaluation criteria, and conclusions from data collected and analyzed throughout the test process.
• Complete assignments designed to develop a practical knowledge of processes, procedures, equipment, facilities, and systems as well as their interrelationships within engineering disciplines.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

The ideal candidate will use their scientific education in acoustics or related disciplines to develop complex technology solutions, including:

• Custom and COTS sensors that are used for advanced acoustic sensing and communication
• Low-noise analog and digital signal conditioning hardware architectures
• Embedded processors (FPGAs, microcontrollers, and ASICs) and DSP algorithms for filtering, classification, and control
• Simulation and modeling of acoustic and other phenomenology that includes the relevant physics, sensors, and signal processing methods

Experience with any of the following engineering hardware and software tools is desired:

• C, C++, and/or MATLAB (Python) for algorithm development on a variety of devices and instruments
• LTspice, MATLAB (Python), Simulink, COMSOL and/or other multi-domain modeling applications
• Audio Precision, National Instruments, Liquid Instruments, and/or similar test and data acquisition systems

Qualifications

• Enrolled in an accredited full-time undergraduate or graduate degree program required.
• Pursuing a B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in electrical engineering, applied physics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated coursework, research, and/or interest in the field of acoustics.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent work ethic with the ability to work independently or in a team environment.
• Ability to adapt to ever-changing environments, risks, and vulnerabilities.
• Strong computer skills including MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Program duration and hours are flexible based on applicant’s school schedule and availability.

This is a Summer 2027 internship.