Software Engineering Intern - Vehicle Controls (January - August 2027)

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies•Irvine, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world. The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone. Candidates should be available for a full-time commitment from January 11, 2027 to August 13, 2027. This is a general application used to fill multiple internship openings across our Vehicle Controls teams. If selected, you will be matched to a specific team based on your background and interests during the interview process. When software-defined vehicles accelerate, manage battery temperature during fast charge, activate body controls, respond to steering input, or detect a system fault, the embedded software making that possible was built by a vehicle controls team. As a Vehicle Controls intern, you will work on embedded software or controls algorithms for one of several vehicle domains, including propulsion and dynamics, energy storage and charging, thermal and HVAC systems, body controls, functional safety, or systems engineering and test automation supporting these domains. Specific project areas vary by team and may include: Implementing and validating embedded software for battery management, charging, or energy distribution systems Developing controls software for thermal and HVAC systems, body controls, or lighting Contributing to vehicle dynamics or propulsion controls algorithms Supporting functional safety analysis and requirements for safety critical vehicle software Building and running automated tests in Unit, Software in the Loop, or Hardware in the Loop environments Working on systems engineering tasks such as requirements definition, architecture, or homologation.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program at an accredited US university
Proficiency in C or C++, with some exposure to Python

Nice To Haves

Actively pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field, with intent to return to school after the internship
Coursework or project experience with embedded systems, control theory, or real time operating systems
Familiarity with automotive communication protocols such as CAN, LIN, or Automotive Ethernet
Exposure to MATLAB and Simulink for controls modeling
Interest or coursework in functional safety concepts such as ISO 26262

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and test embedded software or controls algorithms for an assigned vehicle domain
Write production quality code in C or C++, with Python used for test tooling
Collaborate with systems engineers and test engineers to validate features before deployment
Support test execution in SIL, HIL, or bench environments and help debug issues that arise
Communicate progress and technical tradeoffs to your team throughout the internship