Control Systems Technician Internships
Control systems technician internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working with PLCs, instrumentation, and industrial automation systems, alongside mentorship from working control systems technicians, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in 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 Technician Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
Tips for Your Control Systems Technician Internship Search
Apply months before the start date
Large manufacturers, utilities, and automation firms recruit summer interns the preceding fall and close their cohorts well before spring. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Starting your search early gives you access to the structured programs that fill first.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for control systems technician interns expect limited work history and look for documented projects instead. Prepare two or three completed projects showing PLC ladder logic, wiring diagrams, instrumentation setups, or control panel designs, with the tools and platforms named. A portfolio gives recruiters something specific to assess when your resume is light on experience.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and career center staff frequently know which industrial employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach.
Practice your technical screen out loud before interviews
Control systems technician intern screens typically include a technical component covering electrical fundamentals, PLC basics, or troubleshooting scenarios. Practice walking through your reasoning out loud, not just arriving at an answer, because interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as the final result. Explain your logic as if the interviewer can't see your work.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Larger manufacturers and industrial automation companies run cohort-based intern programs designed specifically to train people new to control systems work. These programs recruit on campus or through early application windows well before general postings go live. Identify the ones that align with your field and apply in the first wave, since they fill faster than open postings.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 60% of the control systems technician internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting through openings, then filter by location and work type so you're only reviewing roles you can actually take. Filtering first saves time and keeps your applications focused.
Control Systems Technician Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a control systems technician internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. Build a portfolio that documents at least two or three projects with the tools you used: wiring diagrams, PLC ladder logic files, or control panel design drawings give recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a control systems technician 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 technician interns is consistent performance on real work, demonstrated reliability in a shop or plant environment, and available headcount when the offer conversation happens. Position yourself by treating every assignment as a full-time audition, without counting on the outcome before you have an offer in hand.
When should I apply for control systems technician internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large manufacturers and utilities recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often wrapping up their cohorts before January. Smaller companies, contractors, and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you won't miss the early waves at large employers or the rolling openings at smaller ones.
Are control systems technician internships paid?
Most professional control systems technician internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid internships exist but are uncommon in industrial and manufacturing settings, where the hands-on work is directly productive for the employer.
What should a control systems technician internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Document two or three complete projects naming the tools you used, PLC platforms, HMI software, instrumentation brands, and link to any supporting files, CAD drawings, or control panel designs where the work is visible. Add relevant coursework in electrical systems, automation, or instrumentation. Keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote control systems technician internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 40% of the control systems technician internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Because hands-on equipment work is central to this role, remote cohorts are limited and fill quickly. Apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get control systems technician 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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