Control Systems Engineer Internships
Control systems engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working with automation and control hardware, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Demand is strongest across Construction & Real Estate, with CRB, Tesla, and ChargePoint among the employers posting roles now.
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Cirrus Venture Labs (CVL) is Cirrus Logic's technology accelerator, focused on developing disruptive, scalable, and monetizable innovations that solve high-impact industry problems. Our mission is to accelerate the introduction of foundational technologies and silicon-centric business models that enable Cirrus Logic to expand into new markets and product categories.
As a Graduate Systems Engineering Intern – Power & Control, you will work alongside experienced engineers, Innovation Managers, and technical architects to explore and prototype next-generation technologies across power electronics, motor control, and intelligent physical systems.
You will apply advanced academic knowledge to real-world engineering challenges through system modeling, simulation, hardware development, and experimental validation. We are particularly interested in candidates who combine strong fundamentals in physical systems with practical experience or curiosity in applying machine learning and modern AI tools to accelerate engineering discovery and prototyping.
This role offers an opportunity to contribute directly to early-stage technology initiatives, collaborate with external ecosystem partners, and gain exposure to the technical and commercial considerations that shape new semiconductor technologies and businesses.
Responsibilites
- Develop or adapt models of DC-DC converters and related power systems using MATLAB/Simulink, LTspice, PLECS, or similar tools.
- Analyze converter behavior across operating conditions, including efficiency, transient response, stability, and control performance.
- Support the evaluation of isolated and non-isolated converter topologies, power-stage components, and control approaches.
- Assist with circuit schematics, component selection, PCB design, and prototype development.
- Bring up, debug, and modify hardware; help identify electrical or thermal issues during testing.
- Plan and run lab measurements using oscilloscopes, electronic loads, power analyzers, signal generators, and other instrumentation.
- Compare measured results with simulations, investigate discrepancies, and update models or design assumptions.
- Automate analysis or test-data processing, and document results for engineering reviews.
- Collaborate with systems engineers and cross-functional partners to turn technical questions into models, experiments, and prototype demonstrations.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Control Systems, or a related field.
- Solid understanding of electrical circuits, power electronics fundamentals, and feedback control.
- Experience with DC-DC converters through research, coursework, projects, or internships.
- Experience modeling or simulating electrical systems using MATLAB/Simulink or comparable tools.
- Familiarity with laboratory instruments and an interest in hands-on hardware testing and debugging.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
- Experience designing, modeling, building, or testing DC-DC converters or switching power supplies.
- Familiarity with converter topologies, component selection, control-loop behavior, and efficiency or thermal considerations.
- Experience with PCB design, prototype bring-up, and hardware debugging.
- FPGA experience, such as developing or testing digital control logic using Verilog or VHDL.
- Python skills for automating simulations or tests, analyzing data, or plotting results.
- Familiarity with motor drives, embedded systems, or real-time control.
Cirrus Venture Labs (CVL) is Cirrus Logic's technology accelerator, focused on developing disruptive, scalable, and monetizable innovations that solve high-impact industry problems. Our mission is to accelerate the introduction of foundational technologies and silicon-centric business models that enable Cirrus Logic to expand into new markets and product categories.
As a Graduate Systems Engineering Intern – Power & Control, you will work alongside experienced engineers, Innovation Managers, and technical architects to explore and prototype next-generation technologies across power electronics, motor control, and intelligent physical systems.
You will apply advanced academic knowledge to real-world engineering challenges through system modeling, simulation, hardware development, and experimental validation. We are particularly interested in candidates who combine strong fundamentals in physical systems with practical experience or curiosity in applying machine learning and modern AI tools to accelerate engineering discovery and prototyping.
This role offers an opportunity to contribute directly to early-stage technology initiatives, collaborate with external ecosystem partners, and gain exposure to the technical and commercial considerations that shape new semiconductor technologies and businesses.
Responsibilites
- Develop or adapt models of DC-DC converters and related power systems using MATLAB/Simulink, LTspice, PLECS, or similar tools.
- Analyze converter behavior across operating conditions, including efficiency, transient response, stability, and control performance.
- Support the evaluation of isolated and non-isolated converter topologies, power-stage components, and control approaches.
- Assist with circuit schematics, component selection, PCB design, and prototype development.
- Bring up, debug, and modify hardware; help identify electrical or thermal issues during testing.
- Plan and run lab measurements using oscilloscopes, electronic loads, power analyzers, signal generators, and other instrumentation.
- Compare measured results with simulations, investigate discrepancies, and update models or design assumptions.
- Automate analysis or test-data processing, and document results for engineering reviews.
- Collaborate with systems engineers and cross-functional partners to turn technical questions into models, experiments, and prototype demonstrations.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Control Systems, or a related field.
- Solid understanding of electrical circuits, power electronics fundamentals, and feedback control.
- Experience with DC-DC converters through research, coursework, projects, or internships.
- Experience modeling or simulating electrical systems using MATLAB/Simulink or comparable tools.
- Familiarity with laboratory instruments and an interest in hands-on hardware testing and debugging.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
- Experience designing, modeling, building, or testing DC-DC converters or switching power supplies.
- Familiarity with converter topologies, component selection, control-loop behavior, and efficiency or thermal considerations.
- Experience with PCB design, prototype bring-up, and hardware debugging.
- FPGA experience, such as developing or testing digital control logic using Verilog or VHDL.
- Python skills for automating simulations or tests, analyzing data, or plotting results.
- Familiarity with motor drives, embedded systems, or real-time control.
Control Systems Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
Tips for Your Control Systems Engineer Internship Search
Apply before the fall recruiting window closes
Large aerospace, defense, and industrial automation employers fill summer cohorts the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September. Set up search alerts now and prioritize those applications first. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so returning to listings through spring catches a second round of openings.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for control systems engineer interns expect limited work history and assess candidates on project evidence instead. Document two or three complete projects showing your process, the tools you used, such as MATLAB, Simulink, LabVIEW, or PLC environments, and link to a GitHub repository, design file, or lab report so recruiters have something concrete to review.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured intern programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and your career center frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles appear publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time widens the pool you reach beyond formal recruiting programs.
Practice your technical screen out loud before you apply
Control systems engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering dynamics, feedback control concepts, Laplace transforms, and sometimes coding in MATLAB or Python. Practice explaining your reasoning step by step, not just arriving at an answer, because interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you get it right.
Target structured rotational and co-op programs early
Many large manufacturers, defense contractors, and utilities run formal co-op or rotational intern programs built to train people new to control systems work. These programs recruit months ahead of their start dates and fill fast. Identify the ones that match your school schedule and engineering focus, then apply in the first wave rather than waiting for a second posting.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 50% of the control systems engineer internships listed here. Because much of the work involves physical hardware, test benches, and lab environments, many positions require in-person presence. Decide what you can commit to first, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you spend your time on roles you can actually take.
Control Systems Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a control systems engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. Build a portfolio that documents your control system designs, simulation work, or lab projects with the tools you used, giving recruiters a concrete artifact to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a control systems engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for control systems engineer interns is performance on real project deliverables, available headcount on the team, and how early the company makes return-offer decisions. Position yourself by treating every assignment as production-quality work, but keep applying to full-time roles in parallel rather than counting on a specific offer.
When should I apply for control systems engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large aerospace, defense, and industrial automation employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you catch both waves rather than missing the early-recruiting window entirely.
Are control systems engineer internships paid?
Most professional control systems engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer discloses it. Unpaid arrangements are uncommon in engineering and are typically limited to academic credit arrangements at smaller organizations, so paid roles make up the clear majority of what you'll find.
What should a control systems engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools, software, and hardware you used, such as MATLAB, Simulink, LabVIEW, or PLC programming environments, and link to or reference a portfolio, GitHub repository, or design documentation where the recruiter can see the actual work. Add relevant coursework in control theory, dynamics, or embedded systems, and keep everything to one page.
Are there remote control systems engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 50% of the control systems engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Because control systems work often involves physical hardware, lab access, and test equipment, remote cohorts tend to focus on simulation, modeling, and software-side tasks. Those roles fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a co-op for control systems engineers?
A co-op is a structured, alternating academic and work term that places you full-time at an employer for one or two semesters rather than a single summer. Many large manufacturers, defense contractors, and utilities run formal co-op programs for control systems engineering students. They recruit early, the roles are competitive, and completing a co-op cycle often carries more weight with full-time hiring teams than a single summer internship.
Can international students get control systems engineer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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