UIUC Research Park Intern - Computation Methods, Thermal Analysis

Rivian•Champaign, IL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This Spring 2027 internship supports the development of computational methods for flow and thermal simulations. Projects may involve scientific computing; multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD); finite-element analysis (FEA) of thermal components; 0D/1D thermo-fluid system simulation; reduced-order modeling; numerical heat transfer and thermodynamics; computational geometry; meta-modeling; data analysis; calibration; machine learning; process automation; and optimization. The role requires working from Rivian’s office at Research Park and providing weekly task-status updates and monthly project updates. The schedule is 20 hours per week during the fall and spring and 40 hours per week during the summer. Applicants must be actively pursuing a master’s or PhD degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with an expected graduation date between December 2027 and May 2029, and must remain enrolled during the internship term. No visa sponsorship is available. The hourly salary range for Illinois-based applicants is $25.00–$40.00. Benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, and medical insurance; internship positions are not eligible for retirement benefits.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a master’s or PhD degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Engineering or a closely related field.
Remain actively enrolled in an accredited degree program during the internship term, with an expected graduation date between December 2027 and May 2029.
Strong background in mathematical analysis, scientific computing, and algorithm development.
Proficiency in programming languages such as C/C++, Fortran, MATLAB, or Python.
Experience with high-performance computing and cloud computing.
Proficiency in multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
Expertise in finite-element thermal analysis.
Experience with statistical methods, data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Must be able to work from Rivian’s office at Research Park.
Must be available for 20 hours per week during the fall and spring and 40 hours per week during the summer.

Responsibilities

Perform multiphase CFD simulations for motor cooling using in-house or commercial tools.
Develop in-house multiphase CFD solvers.
Conduct conjugate heat transfer finite-element analysis of motors using in-house or commercial tools.
Develop in-house finite-element solvers for thermal simulations.
Develop reduced-order models for physics-based simulations of flow and thermal systems.
Apply computational geometry techniques to develop, modify, and analyze engineering designs.
Develop scripts to streamline product development and automate workflows.
Use data analysis, meta-modeling, and machine learning to improve simulation efficiency.
Perform design optimization through simulation-driven analysis.
Provide weekly task-status updates and monthly project updates.