Internships
Engineering Internship Program
The Engineering Internship Program is the perfect opportunity for college students to earn money for school while exploring the various engineering disciplines at Cessna. It’s also an invaluable resource for aspiring engineers to practically apply their classroom education in a fast-paced, high-tech business environment. For interns who demonstrate strong performance in their functional area, an internship is also a great way to make inroads into the company. Many of the engineers who work at Cessna today began their career as interns.
Internships are offered year-round, corresponding to the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Students with at least a 2.8 GPA and 60 hours of course study towards a degree in Aeronautical, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering qualify for the program. Positions are based in Advanced Design, Project Design, Systems Integration, Structural Integrity and Flight Test.
Job assignments and salary levels correlate directly with the student’s educational experience, with the more challenging and higher-salaried positions going to the most senior students. All positions are classified as Full-Time and include an offer of a benefits package that includes holiday pay, vacation accrual and health insurance.
Several colleges and universities have close relationships with Cessna, and can provide assistance in applying to the program. If your school does not coordinate this for us, you may submit your resume and transcript directly to either of the addresses at the bottom of this page.
Submittal deadlines are as follows:
Fall Term July 1st
Spring Term November 1st
Summer Term January 15th
ATTN: INTERN SUBMITTAL
One Cessna Boulevard
Dept 875 ms/26
Wichita, KS 67215
Functional Areas
Engineering Functions
At Cessna, capable engineers are imperative to our success. Their expertise significantly strengthens our product and service offerings and extends us into adjacent growth areas. Our engineers create new products, new innovations and represent the opportunity to create something new – which is the cornerstone of our future growth.
There are many different areas within Engineering. This provides our employees the opportunity to apply their talents and passion to a specific area or product.
Functional Areas
Advanced Design
This department represents the earliest stage of aircraft development. Given the basic requirements of the new design, whether it be a new model or an update on an older model, AD conceptualizes the overall aircraft configuration. The hallmark of this organization is its ability to evaluate proposed aircraft configurations quickly and its ability to meet aircraft mission requirements and company financial targets. Preliminary airframe and systems design activities play an important role in assessing the feasibility of new product concepts.
Project Design
Project Design evaluates Advanced Design projects and begins to flesh out the aircraft configuration. Work includes conceptual design and construction of the wings, fuselage, tail, control surfaces and all interfacing structures. Project Design then produces the computer-generated designs and drawings that later become the master pattern for all parts assemblies and installations of the aircraft.
Mechanical Systems
Following the earliest stages of design, Mechanical Systems engineers are tasked with not only ensuring first-rate reliability in each of its system areas but also making maintainability as easy as possible. Mechanical, hydraulic, bleed air, pressurization, environmental, landing gear and propulsion systems all fall under the purview of the Mechanical Systems organization.
Interiors
The Interiors group is composed of four major subsections: Interior Engineering, Research and Development, Interior Design and Industrial Design. Interior Engineering interfaces directly with the Marketing organization. This group both develops conceptual layouts for given specifications as well as provides direction for new product design. The Research and Development group is responsible for locating or creating materials, products and processes for effectively and efficiently implementing given interior design requirements. Interior design is responsible for the final visual appearance of the aircraft, from customized cabin selections to even the exterior paint scheme. And finally, Industrial Design is chartered to research and develop innovative interior solutions to meet customer expectations on new aircraft models.
Avionics and Electrical Systems
From design concept to final implementation, the Avionics and Electrical Systems (AES) function is responsible for all integration between new and existing avionics and electrical systems. AES engineers utilize a variety of software tools, including CATIA and CCD, to generate wiring definitions, instrument panel drawings, new software, test plans, and reports. They also use electronic test equipment for hands-on troubleshooting and functional tests.
Structural Integrity
The work of the Structural Integrity group begins with the inception of a new aircraft program and runs throughout the life of the model. Comprised of several structural sub-groups, this group influences preliminary design work to ensure that the airframe will safely meet all mission requirements, then continues support through production and field support, including airplane design life limit.
Production Support
The Production Support organization consists of engineering and quality control personnel who review components, assemblies and materials that are outside of the original engineering specifications. Production support engineers determine if and how discrepancies can be restored equal to or stronger than the original blueprint requirements.
Engineering Flight Test
Engineering Flight Test is responsible for the experimental flight-testing of each Citation model, including all pre-production development and FAA certification of both new and updated aircraft. The testing involves evaluations of initial flying qualities, stability and control, and takeoff and landing performance, just to name a few. Flight Test also performs development and certification of aircraft modifications and systems, including propulsion, avionics, pneumatic and bleed air systems, hydraulics, anti-ice and de-ice systems, pressurization and flight controls. Test pilots and flight test engineers handle all flight test planning and scheduling, aircraft instrumentation coordination and planning, generation of flight test plans, data acquisition and analysis, on- and off-site flight test support, and generation of development and certification reports.
Airworthiness
The Airworthiness group represents Cessna in all certification activities involving the National Airworthiness Authorities (NAA), both domestic and international. The group’s facilitation of type certification activities, in particular, is key to company commitments of on-time new aircraft deliveries. Additionally, these engineers promote aviation safety through their continued airworthiness support of all Cessna products.
Propeller Product Engineering
With more than 120,000 aircraft in the field, adding nearly 1,000 a year to this number, the Propeller Product Engineering team supports the largest fleet of propeller-driven aircraft in the world. The team’s responsibilities lie in four major areas: propeller aerodynamics, mechanical design, and certification; piston and turbine aircraft avionics and propulsion upgrades; new product development and certification; and support of current manufacture and field aircraft – some of which are as old as the 1940s.
