Manufacturing Engineering Intern

Job Description

Manufacturing Engineering Intern | Skydio

The Tone:
This is an internship at Skydio, a leading US drone company. Skydio is the world leader in autonomous flight, a key technology shaping the future of drones and aerial mobility. This role is vital for supporting the rapid development and scaling of manufacturing processes for their cutting-edge drone products. Interns contribute directly to enabling a broad and diverse range of users, from utility inspectors to first responders, to leverage advanced drone technology.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Pay: $47–$58 hourly
• Mission: Support the ramp of new and existing product assemblies by designing fixtures, writing and validating work instructions, piloting assembly processes, and driving small-scale improvements that scale to full production.
• Tech Stack: Catia, Fusion360, 3D printing, machining, laser cutting, FlexSim (exposure)

What You’ll Actually Do
• Create: Develop clear, step-by-step assembly work instructions for new sub-assemblies or stations, including photos, diagrams, torque/spec callouts, inline quality checks, cycle-time estimates, and operator training checklists.
• Design: Conceptualize, CAD model, and prototype assembly fixtures and jigs, providing BOMs, and developing fixture validation plans to measure repeatability.
• Execute: Implement quick lean improvements (such as 5S/Kaizen) by mapping current states, proposing changes, tracking before/after metrics like cycle time or defect rates, and planning rollout.
• Evaluate: Assess and execute updates for equipment and assembly stations, which includes creating future state equipment lists, estimating budgets and lead times, coordinating installation, and validating equipment reliability.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics, or a closely related technical field.
• Experience: Comfortable with hands-on assembly work including basic soldering, harness routing, and the use of torque drivers, hand tools, and small assembly tools. Experience or coursework in GD&T, BOMs, and reading engineering drawings. Familiarity with prototyping methods such as 3D printing, machining, and laser cutting, alongside a willingness to use the machine shop. Basic understanding of lean manufacturing concepts (5S, Kaizen, SMED) and data collection (SPC, simple DOE).
• Skills: Strong practical problem-solving abilities and an appetite for iterative improvement. Proficiency in CAD software (Fusion360 or Catia or similar) with the capability to produce simple fixture concepts and mechanical drawings. Strong attention to detail, a documentation mindset for clear work instructions, and a quality orientation. Good communication skills, able to collaborate across mechanical, electrical, quality, and supply chain teams. A self-starter who learns quickly, iterates on prototypes, and is comfortable with ambiguity in early-stage product builds.
• Bonus: Prior fixture design experience, exposure to FlexSim or other line simulation software, experience with inspection equipment, or previous internship experience in a manufacturing environment.