Strategic Executive Intern

Employment Type: Internship (3-6 months with potential for longer)
Travel Required: Minimal Travel (less than 10%)
Relocation Cost: Not Paid Location: In office - Riverside, CA.
Closing Date: Open until filled Pay: $20-$22 Per hour depending on experience and qualifications

We are seeking an exceptional Strategic Executive Intern to join our CEO's office and gain unparalleled exposure to new product development, federal grant opportunities (SBIR/STTR), and strategic business development. This role combines hands‑on executive support with structured learning in customer discovery, product development, project management, and sales generation—making it ideal for ambitious students interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, and business strategy.

This is not a traditional internship
. You will work directly with the CEO, participate in strategic decisions, and gain comprehensive exposure to how early‑stage companies operate, compete for federal funding, and bring innovative products to market.

Executive Support & Strategic Analysis

Conduct marketing analysis and competitive intelligence research

Research SBIR/STTR funding opportunities across federal agencies (NIH, DOE, DOW, NASA, NSF, etc.)

Support grant proposal preparation, including technical writing and documentation

Develop presentations for investors, partners, and stakeholders (pitch decks, strategy documents)

Take detailed meeting notes and manage action item tracking

Synthesize complex information from multiple sources into clear executive summaries

Strategic Projects & SBIR/STTR Expertise

Identify and track federal grant opportunities aligned with company capabilities

Analyze solicitation topics and requirements across multiple agencies

Develop commercialization pathway analyses for potential grant applications

Coordinate cross‑functional project teams and track deliverables

Manage special initiatives as assigned by the CEO

Learning & Development Activities

Conduct customer discovery interviews using structured methodologies

Participate in product development discussions and roadmap planning

Shadow sales calls and customer meetings

Learn Voice of Customer (VoC) methodologies and analysis techniques

Rotate through different functional areas (sales, product, operations) for hands‑on experience

Documentation & Knowledge Management

Maintain organized documentation of processes, research findings, and decisions

Create knowledge base articles and standard operating procedures

Develop templates and tools to improve team efficiency

Learning Objectives

By the end of this internship, you should be able to:

Navigate the federal SBIR/STTR funding landscape and identify opportunities independently

Conduct effective customer discovery interviews and synthesize insights

Develop compelling business presentations and strategic documents

Manage complex cross‑functional projects from inception to completion

Understand product development from vision to execution

Apply Voice of Customer methodologies to inform product decisions

Build a professional network in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem

Currently enrolled as a junior, senior, or graduate student (MBA, MS, PhD or related program)

Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government DOW security clearance (Secret, Top Secret; etc.)

Academic focus in business, engineering, data science or related field

Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills

Excellent written and verbal communication abilities

Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), Google Workspace, and basic understanding of Large Language Models (CoPilot, Claud, Gemini or similar)

Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills

Ability to work independently and take initiative

Comfortable with ambiguity and fast‑paced product startup environment

Previous internship or work experience in consulting, research, or startup environment

Familiarity with federal grant programs (SBIR/STTR) or government contracting

Experience with project management tools (, etc.)

Background in market research or competitive analysis

Demonstrated interest in entrepreneurship,…