This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require
U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.
Who We Are:
Raft (https://teamraft.com) is a customer-centric, innovative small business focused on Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) development. Headquartered in McLean, VA, we work alongside forward-thinking federal and public agencies to design and deploy cutting-edge technology solutions. Our culture is inclusive and collaborative, and we thrive on pushing boundaries in fields like robotics, 3D printing, and UAS technology.
About the Role:
As a Robotics and UAS Development Raftern, you’ll have hands-on involvement in the design, assembly, and programming of custom UAS vehicles for demonstration purposes. This role is perfect for someone with a background in robotics, mechanical engineering, and experience with 3D printing and RC/drone systems. You’ll work alongside our engineering team to print, assemble, and test UAS vehicles, gaining practical experience in creating high-performance systems from the ground up.
What we are looking for:
- Experience with robotics and mechanical engineering principles.
- Proficiency in 3D printing techniques and familiarity with various printing materials.
- Hands-on experience with RC/drone systems, including assembly and programming.
- Basic understanding of version control tools, such as Git, for collaborative development.
- Ability to work with team members on designing and assembling custom UAS vehicles.
- Analytical approach to troubleshooting and testing UAS performance.
- Currently enrolled in a Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or related program.
- U.S. citizenship is required as interns may be exposed to sensitive work related to government operations.
Highly Preferred:
- Familiarity with UAS programming and software tools.
- Knowledge of Agile methodologies or a desire to work within an Agile project structure.
- Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on improving performance and functionality.
- Effective communication skills to articulate technical findings and project outcomes within the team.
Work Type:
- Location: Onsite daily within our McLean, VA headquarters.
- Duration: June to August 2025.
- Hours: Part-time, up to 29 hours per week
- Compensation: $20 - $24 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.
Our Vision Statement:
We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.
Our Customer Obsession:
We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.
How do we get there?
Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before.
People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.
We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
