The posting
Are you ready to take your engineering skills from textbook to takeoff?
We're looking for three highly motivated engineering students to join the nTop Aircraft Design Fellowship for a transformative 12-week summer immersion at our New York City headquarters. This is an accelerated, hands-on design sprint where you and your team will be responsible for the end-to-end development of a cutting-edge Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), from mission requirements to first flight.
Forget working on someone else's project. You will design, analyze, and optimize a functional aircraft from scratch using the powerful capabilities of nTop, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in advanced aircraft design.
What You'll Do Design & Optimize: Utilize nTop to develop a novel UAS configuration, airframe, and component structure tailored to specific mission goals. Build & Fly: Bring your digital design into the physical world, leading the construction, assembly, and flight testing of your prototype. Be a Thought Leader: Document your entire process to create a comprehensive nTop learning course, generate compelling marketing content, and co-author a publishable research paper. Impact the Industry: Your work will directly influence how aerospace companies approach design and manufacturing, showcasing the full potential of nTop.
Fellowship Details Duration: 12 Weeks (Summer 2027 - specific dates flexible) Location: nTop Headquarters, New York City Pay: $20 per hour for 40 hours per week Outcomes: A built and flown UAS prototype, a co-authored research publication, a comprehensive learning course, and valuable professional marketing content.
Desired Experience by Role We’re building a small, high-performing, cross-functional team of three exceptional students: a Configurator/Analysis Lead, an Avionics/Controls Lead, and a Design/Manufacturing Lead. Each role is critical to getting this aircraft off the ground and requires deep expertise in a specific engineering discipline.
Take a look at the roles below, and when you apply, let us know which position matches your expertise. If you’re ready for an unparalleled opportunity to lead a full-stack aerospace project and leave your mark on the future of design technology, apply now!
1. Configurator / Analysis Lead This role is for the student with a deep theoretical and practical understanding of aircraft performance and flight dynamics. You will define the aircraft's outer mold line (OML) and ensure it meets all performance, stability, and control requirements.
Required Experience & Skills Currently pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent). Deep understanding of aircraft configuration design, including trade studies and sizing methodologies. Proven ability to conduct aircraft performance analysis (e.g., range, endurance, takeoff, landing). Strong theoretical background in aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) principles. Experience with stability and control analysis for fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft. Familiarity with air vehicle mass properties and balance calculation. Proficiency with relevant analysis software (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, XFLR5, or other industry tools). Experience translating mission requirements into a viable preliminary aircraft design.
2. Avionics / Controls Lead This role is for the student who thrives at the intersection of mechanical and electrical systems. You will be responsible for specifying, integrating, and programming all electronic components and flight control systems.
Required Experience & Skills Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (or equivalent). Demonstrated experience building and integrating mechatronic systems (e.g., robotics, autonomous vehicles, or UAS). Experience with component specification for UAS, including motors, servos, batteries, and flight controllers. Proficiency in programming microcontrollers and/or flight management systems (e.g., ArduPilot, PX4, or similar open-source platforms). Strong understanding of control systems theory and implementation (e.g., PID loop tuning). Hands-on experience with soldering, wiring harnesses, and electrical layout for compact systems. Familiarity with common communication protocols (e.g., I2C, SPI, CAN).
3. Design / Manufacturing Lead This role is for the student with exceptional hands-on design and manufacturing experience. You will translate the OML into a detailed, manufacturable airframe, focusing on structural integrity and leveraging nTop's advanced design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) capabilities.
Required Experience & Skills Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent). Extensive, proven experience in Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), including topology optimization, lattice generation, and part consolidation. Proficiency in detailed mechanical design and creating engineering drawings. Strong understanding of material properties (especially polymers and composites) relevant to airframe construction. Hands-on experience with Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) processes (e.g., FDM, SLS, SLA) and post-processing techniques. Experience with structural analysis and designing components to meet specific load cases. Familiarity with traditional manufacturing methods (e.g., composite layup, machining) is a plus.
