Vehicle Thermal Integration - Validation Engineering Intern
About The Position
The Product Validation Engineering Vehicle Thermodynamics & Integration (VTI) group validates vehicle performance across thermal systems, environmental exposure, full-vehicle operation, and powertrain integration to ensure DTNA vehicles meet regulatory and real-world customer requirements. This internship provides hands-on experience in vehicle testing and data analysis. The intern will own summer test requests, including planning, coordination, and report-out, and support on-site testing at remote locations in high ambient temperature and high-altitude conditions. The intern will also assist with data collection, analysis, and documentation to validate vehicle performance. Interns may have the opportunity to transition into a full-time position, subject to manager evaluations and business availability. The internship begins in May or June. The position is based in Portland, Oregon, with a hybrid schedule of four days per week in the office and one day remote. Travel is required in support of Summer Test activities, and relocation assistance may be available if eligibility criteria are met.
Requirements
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor's program or higher at an accredited college or university, or recently graduated within one year of the position start date in May or June.
- Enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
- Strong interest in vehicle performance, thermodynamics, and hands-on testing.
- Ability to work in outdoor, laboratory, and vehicle test environments.
- Analytical mindset, attention to detail, and structured problem-solving ability.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Willingness to travel in support of Summer Test activities.
- Experience working in team-based engineering environments.
- Strong oral and written communication, organizational, creative, and interpersonal skills, and ability to work in a team environment.
- Must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country where the position is located; the position is not open to visa sponsorship or existing visa holders.
- Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check and may be required to complete a pre-employment drug screen.
Nice To Haves
- Junior or senior standing in the upcoming academic term.
- Coursework or project experience in thermodynamics, heat transfer, or powertrain systems.
- Exposure to vehicle testing, instrumentation, or data acquisition, such as CANape or similar.
- Experience with data analysis using engineering tools such as Python, MATLAB, or similar.
Responsibilities
- Support vehicle-level thermodynamics and performance testing, including cooling, aftertreatment systems, air systems, and environmental exposure.
- Assist with planning and execution of Summer Test activities, including vehicle instrumentation, test setup, and daily test support.
- Set up, operate, and troubleshoot instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
- Collect, process, and review vehicle test data; support root cause analysis of thermal or performance issues.
- Work with Design Engineering, Powertrain, and other Product Validation Engineering teams to align testing with design intent.
- Document test results and contribute to summaries, reports, and technical discussions.
- Support continuous improvement of test methods, fixtures, and procedures.
- Participate in a collaborative, hands-on test environment, including on-vehicle work.
- Lead and support efforts to foster an inclusive and welcoming workplace culture.
- Own summer test requests, including planning, coordination, and report-out, and support on-site testing at remote locations.
Benefits
- Professional development and networking events, including resume reviews and mock interviews.
- Housing and transportation stipend.
- Employee resource groups.
- Event ticket offering, based on corporate availability.
- Company social events.
- Relocation assistance may be available when the selected candidate meets eligibility criteria.
