Embedded Systems Intern

Terranova

Berkeley (CA)

On-site

USD 27,552 - 38,572

Part time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Company perks

Job summary

A leading climate technology company in Berkeley is seeking a computer engineering intern to join its engineering team. The role involves owning design projects from concept through deployment, requiring hands-on work with robotic systems. Candidates should have strong prototyping skills, working knowledge of C/C++ for embedded systems, and be enrolled in a relevant degree program. This internship offers competitive pay and valuable experience in a dynamic startup environment.

Qualifications

Working towards a bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field.
U.S. permanent residency required.
Proficiency in PCB and embedded systems design.

Responsibilities

Own aspects of electrical design, firmware, and controls integration.
Develop and debug embedded firmware in C/C++.
Design and review mixed-signal PCBs.
Integrate sensors and power electronics with reliable interfaces.

Skills

Hands-on prototyping skills

LiDAR and Sensors

Experience in electromechanical controls

C/C++ with FreeRTOS/Zephyr

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

KiCad

Altium

Job description

Company Description

Backed by leading climate and American dynamism investors, Terranova builds intelligent robotic systems to terraform the Earth itself - lifting land, restoring wetlands, and protecting critical infrastructure from floods and sea-level rise.

Our mission is to preserve the built environment, create new habitats, and usher in an era of abundance. Our work supports climate resilience, disaster recovery, and defense across the United States and beyond.

We’re assembling a world-class team that wants to work on something real, physical, and civilization-scale. If you want your work to reshape the world (literally), this is the place to do it.

What to to Expect

Terranova seeks a computer engineering intern to join our core engineering team. The ideal candidate has a passion for their craft and can go deep on design and analysis while maintaining a systems-level view across electrical, embedded, and controls disciplines. This person thrives in a startup environment - owning problems end-to-end, moving fast, and building machines that survive the real world.

You’ll lead projects from concept through field deployment: designing, analyzing, fabricating, and testing large-scale robotic systems that operate in the most demanding environments on Earth. Expect to be hands‑on, spend long hours in the factory and in the field working alongside technicians and operators.

Key Responsibilities

Own aspects of electrical design, firmware, controls integration, and PCB design
Develop and debug embedded firmware in C/C++ for STM32/ESP32/RP2040 or similar
Design and review mixed‑signal PCBs using KiCad/Altium.
Integrate sensors, radios, and power electronics with reliable, low‑latency interfaces (I²C, SPI, UART, CAN).
Characterize and optimize power budgets, EMI performance, and manufacturability.
Bring‑up, test, and validate hardware prototypes through DFM/DFT cycles.
Support system integration and field debugging of deployed robotic platforms.
Understand high power systems (150+ kW) and ensure safe design
Collaborate closely with electrical, controls, and field teams to deliver integrated, field‑ready systems
Drive failure analysis, testing, and iterative improvement based on real‑world data

Preferred Skills and Experience

Hands‑on prototyping skills - you enjoy working in the shop - have built hobby projects - are a maker
LiDAR and Sensors
Experience in electromechanical controls - VFDs
Experience in high voltage AC power conversion systems and lithium batteries
STM32/ESP32/RP2040
C/C++ with FreeRTOS/Zephyr
KiCad/Altium PCB Design
Mixed‑signal and power design
PCB and embedded systems design skills (Altium or equivalent)
Comfortable with the pace and intensity of early‑stage startup life, including long days, 6‑day workweeks, and extended field hours
Working towards a bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field
U.S. permanent residency required