R&D Engineering Intern

About the role#

Technergetics is seeking an R&D Engineering Intern for a 3-month engagement focused on secure, low-power personnel tracking for edge environments. This position supports a Phase I SBIR/STTR research effort involving protocol design and mesh networking experimentation. You will work alongside a Principal Investigator and an academic Co-PI to develop solutions for environments where GPS, cellular, and Wi-Fi are unavailable.

What you'll do#

• Research and prototype tracking protocols inspired by military tactical data links.
• Explore mesh networking approaches for Denied, Disconnected, Intermittent, and Limited-bandwidth (D-DIL) environments.
• Conduct comparative analysis of networking technologies such as LoRaWAN, Meshtastic, and Thread.
• Draft a notional message format optimized for constrained RF links.
• Evaluate cluster formation strategies and lightweight cryptography for low-power microcontrollers.
• Contribute to the final technical report and the follow-on project roadmap.

What you'll need#

• Matriculation in an accredited college or university pursuing a Master's degree or a late-stage BS/BA in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Coursework or project experience in at least two of the following: wireless communications, embedded systems, networking protocols, or applied cryptography.
• Proficiency in C/C++ and/or Python for embedded and simulation work.
• Strong technical writing skills to assist in authoring final reports.
• Ability to work independently, planning and executing against weekly milestones in a remote setting.
• U.S. citizenship is required for this contract.

Location & details#

• Term: Summer 2026 (starting June 2026).
• Work Modality: Remote.
• Employment Type: Full-time (30 to 40 hours per week).
• Compensation: $22–$28 per hour, depending on experience and education level.
• Note: Applicants must pass a background investigation.