Software Engineering Intern, Vehicle Controls - Fall 2026

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies•Irvine, CA

16h•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. As a Software Engineering Intern, you will be an integral part of the Vehicle Control Systems Organization, responsible for implementing and validating low-level embedded software for critical vehicle functions such as Energy Storage & Distribution (ES&D), power modes, or foundational motion control features. You will work in a dynamic environment, applying your expertise in real-time programming and system fundamentals to ensure the safety and reliability of our electronic control units (ECUs). About the Vehicle Controls Internship: We are looking for talented interns to join various teams within our Vehicle Controls department. Program Details: Timeline: Full-time, September 21 – December 18 Location: Palo Alto, CA or Irvine, CA By submitting a single application to this posting, you will be considered for all of the following internship tracks: Software Engineering Intern – Embedded Software Software Engineering Intern – Controls Test & Automation (including Lighting) Software Engineering Intern – Thermal Controls Software Engineering Intern – Systems Engineering Software Engineering Intern – Charging Technical Program Management Intern

Requirements

Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related technical field at an accredited US university with the intent to return to school following completion of internship.
Proficiency in C/C++ and/or Python.

Nice To Haves

Actively pursuing a degree
Experience working in a Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) environment.
Experience working with CAN, LIN, UDS, DoIP communication protocols
Experience with Microcontroller and PID (proportional–integral–derivative controller)
Experience working with advanced 32-bit multi-core microcontrollers.

Responsibilities

Implement and validate embedded software for vehicle systems, such as battery and energy management systems.
Develop features for low and high voltage systems, including power and current distribution, DC/DC controls, or fault detection and recovery.
Design scalable software architectures with a focus on embedded system reliability and performance.
Contribute to the automated testing framework by writing automated tests for software components, utilizing Unit, Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments.
Contribute to the design, development, and implementation of highly complex systems spanning multiple domains.
Work with systems engineers to define feature requirements and collaborate with test engineers to test, validate, and debug algorithms before deployment.