2027 Summer Intern - Research & Development - Energy and Propulsion Controls

General Motors • Warren, MI

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

As a 2027 Summer Intern on the Energy and Propulsion Controls team, you will support researchers and engineers working on advanced vehicle energy-management, propulsion-control, and thermal-management technologies. A primary focus is the EVE Research Program, where thermal management is a core technical deliverable. You will help translate research into vehicle-level control concepts, models, simulations, and implementation activities that support efficient, safe, and high-performing electrified propulsion systems.

The role provides experience connecting control strategies with batteries, power electronics, electric machines, propulsion systems, thermal loops, sensors, actuators, and vehicle-level energy requirements. GM’s thermal-control work coordinates battery, power-electronics, drive-unit, charging, HVAC-related, and front-end airflow requirements while balancing efficiency, performance, comfort, and component protection.

The Research and Development organization explores technologies that can improve vehicle efficiency, propulsion performance, charging, thermal behavior, durability, and customer experience. The EVE Research Program includes advanced controls, thermal management, propulsion-energy conversion, fast charging, and vehicle health management. You will work in a multidisciplinary environment with controls researchers, thermal engineers, propulsion specialists, modeling and simulation experts, and vehicle-development teams. The team uses systems engineering, controls theory, experimentation, simulation, and data analysis to evaluate concepts and transition promising research into vehicle applications.

This hybrid role is expected to report to Warren, Michigan, at least three times per week (or at another frequency dictated by the business). Interns must be able to work 40 hours per week during the summer and be willing to work in a laboratory, engineering test, or vehicle-development environment as applicable. Start dates are May 24 or June 14, 2027. GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Eligible students selected for the 2027 Student Program will receive a one-time taxable lump-sum stipend to help facilitate relocation benefits.

Requirements

• Pursuing an advanced degree (MS or PhD) in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, controls engineering, computer engineering, chemical engineering, systems engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Able to work full-time, 40 hours per week during the summer months.
• Willing to work in a laboratory, engineering test, or vehicle-development environment, as applicable to the assignment.
• Must not require GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future, including sponsorship or immigration-related work-authorization support such as H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, or J-1.

Nice To Haves

• Coursework, research, or project experience in control systems, thermal systems, energy management, vehicle dynamics, battery systems, power electronics, electric propulsion, or mechatronics.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, Modelica, GT-SUITE, or comparable modeling and simulation tools.
• Familiarity with feedback control, system identification, optimization, state estimation, calibration, or control-oriented modeling.
• Experience analyzing time-series data from simulations, laboratory testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or vehicle testing.
• Experience with sensors, actuators, data acquisition, embedded controls, or software development.
• Understanding of battery state of charge, battery power limits, thermal limits, energy consumption, regenerative braking, or propulsion-system operating modes.
• Familiarity with CAN, LIN, signal databases, vehicle data logging, or other automotive communication and measurement technologies.
• Ability to organize technical work, document assumptions, investigate unexpected results, and communicate conclusions clearly.
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, along with curiosity and a willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Support research assignments related to energy management, propulsion controls, thermal management, and vehicle-level control coordination.
• Help develop, evaluate, and document control strategies for batteries, power electronics, electric machines, drive units, charging systems, and related thermal systems.
• Support vehicle implementation of thermal-management research, including control logic for coolant pumps, valves, compressors, heaters, fans, shutters, and other thermal actuators.
• Develop or modify models to study battery, propulsion, and thermal-system behavior under representative vehicle operating conditions.
• Run simulations and analyze system behavior across drive cycles, ambient and charging conditions, operating modes, and component limits.
• Evaluate tradeoffs among energy consumption, range, component temperature, charging performance, propulsion capability, drive quality, efficiency, and occupant comfort.
• Support development of interfaces between propulsion controls, energy-management functions, battery systems, thermal systems, HVAC-related systems, and vehicle-level controllers.
• Analyze sensor and actuator data to identify trends, control issues, performance limitations, and opportunities for improvement.
• Compare simulation results with laboratory, bench, hardware-in-the-loop, or vehicle-test data when available.
• Assist with control-strategy verification and validation through test-case development, test execution, data review, and issue investigation.
• Document requirements, control logic, system assumptions, interfaces, calibration parameters, test procedures, and technical results.
• Create plots, dashboards, presentations, technical summaries, and other materials to communicate findings to engineering and research stakeholders.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers to define technical questions, establish analysis plans, review results, and recommend next steps.
• Present progress and technical findings in team reviews and incorporate feedback into follow-on work.

Benefits

• One-time lump-sum taxable stipend for eligible students selected for the 2027 Student Program to help facilitate administration of relocation benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern