Software Engineering Intern - Autonomy Controls

Rivian•Irvine, CA

5h•$33 - $51

About The Position

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. Role Summary Internship Term: Summer 2026 Rivian internships are experiences optimized for student candidates. To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited program during the internship term with an expected graduation date between Fall 2026 through Spring 2028. Rivian's Internship Program requires active student enrollment. Information regarding your expected degree completion date is collected solely to verify eligibility and determine your availability for future full-time opportunities. Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and does not use graduation dates to determine the age of applicants or as a basis for discriminatory hiring decisions. If you are not pursuing a degree, please see our full time positions on our Rivian careers site. Note that if your university has specific requirements for internship programs, it is your responsibility to fulfill those requirements. The Controls Engineering Intern will support the development and validation of advanced active safety control algorithms for Rivian's Autonomy systems.

Requirements

Must be currently pursuing a bachelors, masters, or PhD degree at an accredited university.
Actively pursuing a degree or one closely related in computer science, computer engineering, robotics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering.
Strong C++ programming skills with experience developing production-quality, performance-critical software.
Experience validating algorithms and software using large-scale datasets and analytics platforms such as Databricks.
Solid understanding of control systems fundamentals and their application in real-world autonomy or active safety problems.
Ability to analyze simulation and logged vehicle data to diagnose issues and drive algorithm improvements.
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail when working on safety-critical software systems.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement active safety control algorithms in C++ and/or model-based frameworks to support autonomous and ADAS features.
Design, execute, and analyze simulation-based tests to evaluate control performance across diverse safety-critical scenarios.
Validate control software through unit tests, regression testing, and closed-loop simulation to ensure robustness and reliability.
Collaborate with autonomy, perception, and systems teams to integrate control logic into the broader vehicle software stack.
Debug, optimize, and maintain control software with a focus on performance, safety, and code quality.