Electromechanical Design Engineering Intern - Fall 2026

Rivian VW Group; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 34,440 - 55,104; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary

Annual performance bonus

Equity eligibility

Benefits tailored to local market

Job summary

Rivian VW Group is looking for an Electromechanical Design Engineering Intern to shape the design of vehicle systems as part of its internship program. The role includes responsibilities from concept development to initial manufacturing support, providing a unique opportunity to contribute to revolutionary vehicle technology.

Candidates should be currently enrolled in a relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s program and possess a strong understanding of Electrical Engineering fundamentals. The internship offers a comprehensive experience in the automotive industry with multiple tracks available, including software and electrical design.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program at an accredited US university.
• Proficient in Electrical Engineering fundamentals.
• Actively pursuing a related degree with intent to return to school after internship.

Responsibilities

• Support and develop Proof of Concept work needed to ensure program success.
• Design and develop analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits.
• Generate Internal Part Numbers and ensure release cycles are followed.
• Engage with cross-functional teams to understand requirements.
• Debbug and troubleshoot hardware issues at various levels.

Skills

Electrical Engineering fundamentals

Understanding of electronics

Familiarity with communication protocols

Education

Bachelor's or Master's program in a relevant field

Tools

PLM (Product Lifecycle Management)

Job description

About Us

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software‑defined vehicles around the world.

The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.

Role Summary

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the Electro‑Mechanical design of vehicle systems. As an Electromechanical Design Engineering Intern, you will be directly involved in the complete life cycle development of electronic hardware, from early Proof of Concept work to final component release, and initial manufacturing support.

About the Electromechanical Design Engineering Internship: We are looking for talented interns to join various teams within our Electromechanical Design Engineering department.

Program Details:

• Timeline: Full‑time, September 21 – December 18
• Location: Palo Alto, CA, Champaign, IL or Irvine, CA

By submitting a single application to this posting, you will be considered for all of the following internship tracks:

• Embedded Software Engineering Intern
• Software Engineering Intern - Vehicle Lab
• Electrical Design Engineering Intern

Responsibilities

• Design & Development: Support and develop Proof of Concept work needed to ensure program success.
• Component Design: Design and develop analog, digital, and mixed‑signal circuits for hardware modules, including schematic capture and component selection.
• Documentation & Release: Generate Internal Part Numbers for new part requests in the Arena PLM database. Ensure drawing releases and component release cycles are understood and followed.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Engage with all cross‑functional engineering and design teams (e.g., Studio, Architecture, Mechanical) to understand requirements and fully optimize solutions for overall performance, cost, and mass.
• Debug & Validation: Debug and troubleshoot hardware issues at the board and system level. Work with internal teams and suppliers to maintain component and system‑level DVPRs (Design Verification Plan and Report) and ensure test execution.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program at an accredited US university.
• Proficient in Electrical Engineering fundamentals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Actively pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Design Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related technical field with the intent to return to school following completion of internship.
• Understanding of electronics, packaging, and hardware.
• Previous experience with vehicle‑level component programs.
• Understanding of the automotive hardware/software development process. Working knowledge of vehicle electrical systems.
• Familiarity with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) and component release cycles.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as PCIe, CAN, Ethernet, USB, I2C, SPI.

Total Rewards

Full‑time positions include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity.

In addition to base salary, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies offers benefits tailored to the local market. For more information on the benefits available for full‑time employees, check out our Global Benefits Site.

External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site. If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [e-mail].

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment‑related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.

Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.

Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.