IAE Research Support Assistant (Robotics Engineer) - Fall 2025 (Finance)

Organization Summary

The US Institute for Applied Engineering (IAE) is a Florida not-for-profit corporation and US Direct Support Organization organized to support and benefit the University of South Florida including without limitation the US College of Engineering. IAE provides agile, best value engineering products and services to enhance the performance, effectiveness and safety of its customers, including the Department of Defense; other federal, state and local agencies; and industry. The Institute provides these engineering solutions in alignment with its core competencies: Autonomous Systems; Human Performance Enhancement; Data Analytics; Cyber and Electromagnetic Domain Security; and Transportation and Energy infrastructure.

SOFWERX is a venue operated under an agreement between the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and DefenseWERX, designed to increase collaboration and innovation to solve the most difficult warfighter problems. SOFWERX is a forum for accelerating delivery of innovative capability, and facilitating capability refinement through exploration, experimentation, and assessment of promising technology. SOFWERX is in the heart of Ybor City, at a neutral, easily accessible facility.

The internship program is administered by USF Institute of Applied Engineering. Upon hire, you will be considered both a USF IAE Temporary Employee and a SOFWERX student intern.

Requirements

• Must be eligible for a security clearance
• Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or Physics
• Junior or Senior level, with a current GPA of 3.0 or above
• Experience with creating Arduino circuits
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) is a plus
• Software app experience on Linux, Android, Mac OS X or Ubuntu is desired
• Must be willing to learn or be familiar with test equipment: multi-meters, spectrum analyzers, mixed-signal O-scopes, Vector Network Analyzers, and RF power meters.
• Experience working with a variety of engineering students
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Good planning and organizational skills- A high level of integrity, accuracy, dependability, enthusiasm, and confidentiality.
• Software app experience on Linux, Android, Mac OS X or Ubuntu is desired.

Opportunities

• Engage in employee events, such as team building
• Build resume and explore career options
• Apply skills and knowledge to the workplace
• Upon completion of the internship, a letter of recommendation can be provided upon request
• Opportunity for follow-on internship based on performance

Pay Rate

$17.50/hour

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• Must be eligible for a security clearance.
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• Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or Physics
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• Junior or Senior level, with a current GPA of 3.0 or above
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• Experience with creating Arduino circuits
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• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) is a plus
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• Software app experience on Linux, Android, Mac OS X or Ubuntu is desired
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• Must be willing to learn or be familiar with test equipment: multi-meters, spectrum analyzers, mixed-signal O-scopes, Vector Network Analyzers, and RF power meters.
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• Experience working with a variety of engineering students
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• Effective written and oral communication skills
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• Good planning and organizational skills- A high level of integrity, accuracy, dependability, enthusiasm, and confidentiality.
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• Software app experience on Linux, Android, Mac OS X or Ubuntu is desired.
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Time commitment
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• Hours of operation are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday.
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• This position requires a minimum of 15 hours and a maximum of 20 hours per week during the Fall/Spring semesters and a minimum of 20 hours and a maximum of 29 hours per week during the Summer semester.
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• This internship is in-person with limited remote work opportunities.
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Working at USF
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With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
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About USF
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The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu .
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Compliance and Federal Notices
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This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.
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Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws :
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Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
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Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

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• Working with DefenseWERX to design, prototype, and test robotic equipment
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• Assist with conducting research on related technology-focused topics
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• Consult and engage with subject matter experts
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• Must participate in weekly market research and submit minimum required entries for new capabilities, technologies, companies, organizations, etc. that could contribute to the innovative ideas needed to create solutions for the warfighter.
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