Software Engineering Intern, UX/UI 2027

Company Overview ACS (Allen Control Systems) is a defense technology company building precision robotic systems for the United States and its allies. Founded by two former U.S. Navy electrical engineers with deep experience in robotics and software, ACS brings together AI, computer vision, precision motion, and advanced hardware to solve complex defense challenges across land, air, and maritime environments.

Our flagship product, Bullfrog, is an autonomous precision weapon system that transforms existing weapons into highly accurate counter-drone systems — giving warfighters a scalable, cost-effective response to one of the fastest-growing threats on the modern battlefield. Bullfrog is deployed with U.S. forces, and ACS works with organizations throughout the U.S. military and national security community.

Following a $200 million Series B at a $2.2 billion valuation, ACS is rapidly expanding manufacturing, accelerating Bullfrog deployments, and developing the next generation of autonomous battlefield systems. This is an opportunity to join a proven, fast-moving team and help scale technology with direct, real-world impact on national security.

ACS is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with additional operations in Alexandria, Virginia; Mountain View, California; and Huntsville, Alabama. For more information, visit allencontrolsystems.com http://allencontrolsystems.com.

Our interns aren't fetching coffee or shadowing — they're working alongside the same engineers and product teams building the systems we ship. As a UI/UX Intern, you'll help design and improve the interfaces that connect people with real-time technology, from mobile and embedded applications to internal tools used by our engineering and operations teams.

This is early-career work with real stakes. You'll work closely with engineers, product managers, and other designers to turn complex technical systems into interfaces that are intuitive, responsive, and built for the people who use them.

Location: Austin, TX (on-site) Duration: Summer 2027 (~10–12 weeks) Pay: Paid Internship (to be discussed during interviews)

What You'll Do

• Design and iterate on user interfaces for Android, tablet, embedded, and internal applications.
• Create wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and high-fidelity designs that turn complex technical requirements into intuitive user experiences.
• Work closely with engineers to bring designs to life using technologies such as Jetpack Compose and modern Android UI frameworks.
• Collaborate with product managers, software engineers, and other stakeholders to understand user needs and translate them into thoughtful design solutions.
• Design for real-time systems where responsiveness, clarity, and reliability matter.
• Explore interaction patterns for touchscreens, gamepads/controllers, and other input methods.
• Help establish and maintain consistent UI patterns and design systems across applications.
• Participate in user feedback, usability testing, and iterative design reviews.
• Contribute to the full product development cycle — from understanding a problem and sketching an initial concept to implementation and refinement.
• Communicate design decisions clearly and incorporate feedback from both technical and non-technical teammates.

What We're Looking For

• Currently pursuing a degree in UX/UI Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Coursework, project, or internship experience in UI/UX design, interaction design, product design, or front-end/mobile development.
• A portfolio or examples of work demonstrating your approach to solving user problems through design. This can include class projects, personal projects, apps, prototypes, or previous internships.
• Familiarity with design and prototyping tools such as Figma or similar software.
• An interest in designing interfaces for technical, real-time, or complex systems.
• Strong attention to detail and an instinct for creating simple, intuitive user experiences.
• Curiosity about how software is built and a willingness to work closely with engineers.
• Basic understanding of software development concepts and how UI connects to application logic.
• A builder's mindset: you'd rather create something, get feedback, and iterate than wait for a perfect spec.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain the thinking behind your design decisions.

You'll Stand Out

• Experience designing interfaces for mobile, tablet, embedded, or real-time applications.
• Experience with Android, Jetpack Compose, Kotlin, or other mobile development technologies.
• Experience creating interactive prototypes or working with production design systems.
• Experience designing for game-like interactions, simulations, controllers, or other non-traditional input methods.
• Familiarity with accessibility, responsive design, and usability principles.
• Experience collaborating directly with software engineers to implement designs.
• Coursework or project experience in human-computer interaction, computer science, or interaction design.
• Interest in embedded systems, robotics, autonomy, or other technically complex products.

Why ACS

• Direct impact: Your work contributes to products that are built for real-world use — not stuck in a slide deck.
• Real ownership: You'll work directly with the engineers and product team building Bullfrog and contribute to real product decisions from day one.
• Small team, big scope: At a startup this size, interns take on meaningful problems and see their work move from concept to implementation.
• Cross-functional experience: Work alongside designers, product managers, and engineers to understand what it takes to build and ship a product.
• Mentorship: Learn from experienced engineers and product builders who have designed and fielded real defense systems.