Electromechanical Design Engineering Intern - Fall 2026

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies•Palo Alto, CA

3d•$38 - $51•Onsite

About The Position

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the Electro-Mechanical design of vehicle systems. As an Electromechanical Design Engineering Intern, you will be directly involved in the complete life cycle development of electronic hardware, from early Proof of Concept work to final component release, and initial manufacturing support. We are looking for talented interns to join various teams within our Electromechanical Design Engineering department. Timeline: Full-time, September 21 – December 18 Location: Palo Alto, CA, Normal, IL or Irvine, CA By submitting a single application to this posting, you will be considered for all of the following internship tracks: Embedded Software Engineering Intern Software Engineering Intern - Vehicle Lab Electrical Design Engineering Intern

Requirements

Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program at an accredited US university.
Proficient in Electrical Engineering fundamentals.

Nice To Haves

Actively pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Design Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related technical field with the intent to return to school following completion of internship.
Understanding of electronics, packaging, and hardware.
Previous experience with vehicle-level component programs.
Understanding of the automotive hardware/software development process.
Working knowledge of vehicle electrical systems.
Familiarity with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) and component release cycles.
Familiarity with communication protocols such as PCIe, CAN, Ethernet, USB, I2C, SPI.

Responsibilities

Support and develop Proof of Concept work needed to ensure program success.
Design and develop analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits for hardware modules, including schematic capture and component selection.
Generate Internal Part Numbers for new part requests in the Arena PLM database. Ensure drawing releases and component release cycles are understood and followed.
Engage with all cross-functional engineering and design teams (e.g., Studio, Architecture, Mechanical) to understand requirements and fully optimize solutions for overall performance, cost, and mass.
Debug and troubleshoot hardware issues at the board and system level. Work with internal teams and suppliers to maintain component and system-level DVPRs (Design Verification Plan and Report) and ensure test execution.