Software Engineering Intern – Connected Systems Automation

Job Description

Software Engineering Intern – Connected Systems (Fall 2026) | Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies

The Tone:
This is a full-time internship at Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, located in Palo Alto, CA or Irvine, CA. The company is a joint venture focused on defining the future of software-defined vehicles by developing operating systems, zonal controllers, and cloud and connectivity solutions. This role is crucial as it offers hands-on experience in building and validating the technology that will set new standards for vehicle access and connectivity features. Interns will contribute directly to addressing the challenges of electric vehicles and creating a more connected and intelligent automotive future.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Palo Alto, CA or Irvine, CA

• Team: Connected Systems Organization, within the Vehicle Controls department.
• Mission: This intern will help design, build, and run automation that validates next-generation vehicle access and connectivity features.
• Tech Stack: Python, pytest, C/C++, Git, CI/CD, Allure, Grafana

What You’ll Actually Do
• Development Support: Assist in developing and running automated test scripts across multiple vehicle platforms.
• Issue Resolution: Contribute to debugging automation scripts and hardware issues as they arise.
• Data Visualization: Participate in creating dashboards and visualizations for test results.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement new automation solutions and streamline testing workflows.
• Test Bench Operation: Support the setup and operation of automated vehicle test benches under engineer supervision.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field at a US university. Strong interest in automation, embedded systems, or vehicle technologies.
• Experience: Basic programming experience in Python.
• Skills: Programming with Python or pytest.
• Bonus: Experience with C/C++ or object-oriented concepts, prior experience with hardware interfacing, robotics, or automation projects (academic or personal), exposure to version control tools like Git or CI/CD systems, or familiarity with data visualization tools such as Allure or Grafana.