Aurora Flight Sciences
Boeing subsidiary in Manassas, Virginia that designs and builds experimental and autonomous aircraft, including DARPA's X-65.
Overview
Aurora Flight Sciences was founded in 1989 by John Langford and has been a Boeing company since 2017. It develops experimental aircraft, flight autonomy, and advanced composite manufacturing, often under government research contracts. Its best-known current project is the X-65, built for DARPA's CRANE program to test controlling an aircraft with bursts of air instead of moving flaps and rudders. Headquarters and flight operations are at Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia, with a research office in Cambridge, Massachusetts and manufacturing plants in Columbus, Mississippi and Bridgeport, West Virginia. It works more like a research lab and prototype shop than a production-line manufacturer.
Student Insights
Internship basics
Interns must be U.S. citizens or green card holders in an engineering or related degree program. Most internships run 8 to 10 weeks and end with a company-wide presentation. Aurora says interns may receive housing and transportation allowances and are paired with mentors.
Pick the site that matches your interest
Virginia and Massachusetts focus on autonomy, mechanical engineering, and flight operations. West Virginia and Mississippi are manufacturing sites with composites and robotic manufacturing work. Some positions are remote.
Small-company work inside Boeing
Aurora builds one-off research aircraft, so engineers tend to cover more of the design, build, and test cycle than they would on a large production program, while the company is owned by Boeing.
AI Outlook
Autonomy is one of Aurora's core research areas, alongside experimental aircraft and optionally piloted aircraft.
- Flight autonomy research
- Centaur optionally piloted aircraft
Student Hiring
Typical Roles
Notable Programs
- X-65 (DARPA CRANE)
- Centaur Optionally Piloted Aircraft
Career Connections
AeroEd career pathways relevant to Aurora Flight Sciences.