About Valstad
Valstad is building the machine that builds the ships.
We combine industrial robotics, welding, sensing, and AI to turn 3D models into real high-mix ship structure. Our mission is to rapidly expand America's maritime output by 100x.
Our team works directly with large industrial robots and real manufacturing equipment at our Austin facility. The systems we build will ultimately be deployed across shipyards and industrial facilities throughout the country.
About Valstad
Valstad is rebuilding how ships are made.
American shipbuilding is constrained by slow, labor-intensive production methods and a shortage of skilled manufacturing capacity. We are developing robotic production systems that can turn engineering data directly into finished steel structures, dramatically reducing the time and manual programming required to build ships.
Our first platform combines industrial robots, automated material handling, welding, sensing and AI-driven manufacturing software to produce large ship panels and structural assemblies. Instead of programming each new part by hand, our goal is for the system to understand the CAD model, determine how the structure should be assembled and welded, and generate the robotic plan required to build it.
This requires software that allows engineers and operators to understand complex 3D structures, review automatically generated manufacturing plans, control production workflows and respond when physical conditions differ from the nominal CAD model.
The software you build will be used to manufacture real steel structures in our Austin facility and, over time, in shipyards across the country.
The Internship
Valstad is seeking a Software Engineering Intern to help build interactive 3D and manufacturing applications for our robotic production platform.
You will work with CAD-derived geometry, robot paths, manufacturing data and factory workflows. Depending on your experience and interests, your project may involve 3D visualization, CAD-model processing, manufacturing-plan review, production interfaces or tools for analyzing robotic operations.
This is not an internship centered on mock projects or isolated coding exercises. You will own a defined software capability, work directly with engineers and factory users, and deliver something intended for use by the team.
You will be paired with a technical mentor and will participate in normal engineering planning, code review, testing and deployment processes.
Potential Projects
Your primary project will be selected based on your experience and Valstad’s highest-priority needs. Possible projects include:
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Building an interactive 3D viewer for ship panels, stiffeners, welds, fixtures and robotic operations
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Visualizing robot paths, tool orientations, work envelopes and manufacturing sequences
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Developing model-selection, filtering, measurement, annotation and section-view tools
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Building a CAD-import validation interface that identifies missing geometry, incorrect units or unsupported model conditions
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Developing tools for comparing model revisions and identifying affected manufacturing operations
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Building production job-status and operator interfaces
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Creating visualizations for coordinate frames, transformations and sensor measurements
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Developing tools for reviewing the difference between nominal CAD geometry and measured physical geometry
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Building dashboards for robot faults, manual interventions, cycle times and production outcomes
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Improving the performance of large 3D models through instancing, level of detail or incremental loading
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Creating automated tests for complex manufacturing workflows
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Developing internal tools that connect CAD entities to manufacturing and inspection records
What You Will Do
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Design and implement a scoped software project from initial requirements through demonstration and deployment.
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Build production-quality frontend or full-stack software.
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Work with manufacturing, robotics and welding engineers to understand real operational requirements.
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Observe how software is used in Valstad’s manufacturing facility.
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Work with CAD-derived geometry and manufacturing data.
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Develop clear user interfaces for complex technical workflows.
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Write automated tests and participate in code review.
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Diagnose software behavior using logs, production data and user feedback.
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Document your work so the system can be maintained and extended after the internship.
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Present your completed project to the broader Valstad team.
Required Qualifications
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Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering or a related field.
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Strong programming fundamentals.
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Experience building software outside of introductory coursework.
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Experience with JavaScript or TypeScript.
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Familiarity with a modern frontend framework such as React, Vue or Svelte.
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Ability to work independently on a clearly defined technical project.
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Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
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Ability to communicate clearly and ask useful technical questions.
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Interest in robotics, manufacturing, CAD, graphics or industrial software.
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Availability to work full-time and on-site in Austin for the duration of the internship.
Strongly Preferred
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Experience with React and TypeScript.
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Experience with Three.js, React Three Fiber, Babylon.js, WebGL or another real-time 3D graphics framework.
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Experience developing CAD, CAM, BIM, simulation or engineering applications.
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Familiarity with meshes, coordinate systems, transformations or computational geometry.
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Experience with Python, C++, Rust, Go or another backend or systems language.
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Experience with PostgreSQL, APIs or backend application development.
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Experience working with STEP, IGES, STL, OBJ, glTF, DXF or similar geometry formats.
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Experience with Open Cascade or another geometry-processing library.
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Experience building applications for technical or expert users.
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Experience deploying a real application used by people other than yourself.
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Participation in research, student robotics, Formula SAE, engineering design teams or relevant open-source projects.
What We Look For
We are less interested in a specific number of completed courses than in evidence that you can build useful software.
Strong candidates often have:
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Personal projects with meaningful technical depth
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Open-source contributions
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Research or laboratory experience
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Previous technical internships
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Student-team experience
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A portfolio or GitHub profile showing completed work
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A strong explanation of the tradeoffs and failures encountered while building something
Shipbuilding experience is not required. We care about technical curiosity, product judgment and the ability to turn complex requirements into reliable software.
What Success Looks Like
By the end of the internship, you will have delivered a working software capability that improves how Valstad’s team plans, visualizes or executes robotic manufacturing.
Your project will have:
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A clearly defined user and purpose
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Production-quality implementation
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Automated tests appropriate to the project
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Documentation and a clear handoff
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Feedback from actual engineers or factory users
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A final demonstration using real or representative manufacturing data
The strongest interns may be considered for future internships or full-time positions.
Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated pay range for this internship is $32 to $38 per hour, depending on experience and technical depth.
The internship also includes:
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A dedicated technical mentor
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Direct exposure to industrial robots and manufacturing operations
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Ownership of a substantive engineering project
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Regular feedback and code review
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Potential relocation or temporary-housing assistance where appropriate
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Consideration for future internship or full-time opportunities
Valstad is an equal-opportu
