eVTOL & Emerging Companies
The eVTOL Opportunity
Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft — air taxis — represent an entirely new category in aerospace. Companies like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are building aircraft that didn't exist a decade ago, pursuing FAA certification, and partnering with airlines for commercial deployment.
For interns, eVTOL companies offer two unique advantages:
- No ITAR restrictions. These products aren't export-controlled. Permanent residents and international students with work authorization can apply — a significant advantage for students locked out of defense and traditional aerospace by citizenship requirements.
- More responsibility. Earlier-stage companies give interns broader exposure. You're working on an aircraft in active FAA certification, not a small piece of a mature platform.
The trade-offs: Pay is lower than defense tech startups or prime contractors ($20–35/hr vs. $25–61/hr). The industry is pre-revenue — these companies haven't started commercial operations yet. And housing support is limited or nonexistent in expensive California locations.
Joby Aviation
The frontrunner in the eVTOL race — further along in FAA certification than any other manufacturer, backed by Toyota's manufacturing expertise, and building a partnership with Delta Air Lines for commercial deployment.
Interns work in aerodynamics, structures, electric propulsion, avionics, flight software, test engineering, and manufacturing. You're working on an aircraft that's actively in the FAA certification process — the engineering problems are real and consequential.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | ~10–12 weeks (summer) |
| Pay | $22–31/hr |
| Locations | San Carlos, CA and Marina, CA |
| Deadline | Rolling |
| Citizenship | Work authorization only — no ITAR restriction |
| Housing | Not specified |
If Joby achieves certification, it becomes a first-mover in a massive market. Your internship work could be on one of the first commercially certified electric aircraft in history.
Archer Aviation
Building the Midnight eVTOL air taxi. In active FAA certification with partnerships with United Airlines for commercial deployment. Archer runs two summer cohorts, giving flexibility on start dates.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 weeks (two cohort options) |
| Pay | $20–35/hr |
| Location | San Jose, CA |
| Cohort 1 | May 26 — July 31 |
| Cohort 2 | June 15 — August 21 |
| Citizenship | Work authorization only — no ITAR restriction |
| Housing | Not provided; no relocation assistance |
The dual-cohort structure is practical — if you have summer conflicts, you can pick the cohort that fits. No housing or relocation support is the biggest barrier. San Jose is expensive, and Archer doesn't help with moving costs.
Other Emerging Companies to Watch
The eVTOL and advanced air mobility space is broader than Joby and Archer. While these two are the furthest along in FAA certification, other companies are building electric and hybrid-electric aircraft that may offer internship opportunities:
- Wisk Aero (Boeing subsidiary) — autonomous eVTOL. Based in Mountain View, CA. Unique approach: no pilot on board.
- Lilium — German eVTOL manufacturer with U.S. operations. Jet-powered electric aircraft with a different design approach.
- Beta Technologies — Burlington, VT. Building electric aircraft for cargo and passenger use. Has a charging network strategy.
- Supernal (Hyundai subsidiary) — developing eVTOL for urban air mobility with automotive manufacturing expertise.
These companies are earlier-stage and may not always have formal intern programs. Check their careers pages directly and be prepared to send speculative applications. Smaller companies often create intern positions for strong applicants even without formal postings.
The citizenship advantage: eVTOL products generally aren't ITAR-controlled. If you're a permanent resident or international student with work authorization who's been blocked by ITAR requirements at defense companies and SpaceX, the eVTOL sector is one of your best paths into hands-on aerospace engineering.