Software Engineering Intern (Embedded, Backend, Fullstack)

Parallel Systems•Los Angeles, CA

11d

About The Position

Parallel Systems is seeking Software Engineering Interns to help build software for autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles and the platform behind the fleet. This hands-on role offers a scoped project based on the intern’s background and team priorities, with work that may run on prototype vehicles, test benches, or in services and tools used by the team and vehicle operators. Interns own a project from requirements through delivery, work closely with a mentor, and see their work tested on hardware or used by real users. Projects may involve vehicle control software, vehicle communications, sensor and diagnostics integration, fleet and telemetry services, fleet operations tools, or developer and test infrastructure. Interns follow a structured engineering lifecycle of requirements review, design, implementation, testing, and documentation. The 12-week program includes onboarding, project assignment, implementation and testing, integration, validation, handoff, and presentation of results. Progress is tracked through weekly mentor check-ins, design and code reviews, and feedback from the engineering team.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field.
Hands-on software experience through internships, student teams, research, coursework, or personal projects.
Strong programming skills in at least one of Rust, C, C++, Python, Go, or TypeScript.
A track record of building software that works in real-world settings, beyond class assignments or simulation alone.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug issues across system boundaries.
Clear communication skills and comfort asking questions and sharing progress early.
Excitement about working in a hands-on, hard-tech environment where software meets physical vehicles.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Rust, C, or C++ on microcontrollers or embedded Linux.
Familiarity with CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, or Ethernet communication protocols.
Experience building APIs, distributed services, data pipelines, or full-stack web applications.
Familiarity with databases, cloud infrastructure, containers, or CI/CD.
Exposure to RTOS environments, simulation, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Experience bringing up sensors, actuators, motor controllers, or other real electromechanical systems.
Experience on hands-on extracurricular engineering teams such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, rocket club, solar car, autonomous systems teams, or similar.
Strong documentation habits and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

Contribute to a scoped project selected according to team priorities and the intern’s background.
Own a project from requirements through delivery while working closely with a mentor.
Write and test vehicle control software for braking, drivetrain, actuators, and power systems on microcontrollers or embedded Linux.
Develop and validate vehicle communication interfaces, including bench debugging.
Integrate onboard sensors and devices for telemetry, health monitoring, and vehicle operation.
Build fleet and telemetry services and data pipelines that ingest, store, and serve vehicle data.
Build APIs and web applications used to monitor, dispatch, and manage vehicles.
Improve CI/CD, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, deployment, and observability infrastructure.
Review requirements and interfaces; design, implement, test, and document project results.
Test work on benches, in staging, on prototype vehicles, or in production systems, as applicable.
Investigate issues, participate in design and code reviews, document findings and recommended next steps, and present results to the engineering team.