Engineering Intern - Powertrain Testing

Rivian; Tustin (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Powertrain Test Engineering Intern to support validation of electric powertrain systems in a laboratory environment. You will assist with test setups, instrumentation, data collection, and engineering analysis, gaining practical experience with 900 V platforms.

The role requires full-time onsite availability for the spring term (Jan–Aug 2027) as part of Rivian's internship program; visa sponsorship is not provided.

Qualifications

• Must be currently pursuing a bachelors, masters, or PhD degree at an accredited university.
• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Automotive, Controls, or a related engineering field.
• Basic understanding of engineering fundamentals and data analysis.
• Interest in electric vehicles, powertrains, testing, or validation.
• Basic programming or scripting experience, such as Python or MATLAB.
• Prior hands-on experience through a class project, student team, or laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Support engineers with vehicle, system, and component-level powertrain testing.
• Help prepare test setups, instrumentation, and data-acquisition equipment.
• Support the development or improvement of test scripts and data-processing tools.
• Assist with the design and setup of laboratory upgrade projects.
• Lead and complete a defined continuous-improvement project.

Skills

Mechanical

Electrical

Automotive

Controls

Data analysis

Python

MATLAB

Hands-on experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Test equipment

Data acquisition

Job description

About Rivian

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Role Summary

Internship Term:

Rivian internships are experiences optimized for student candidates. To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited program during the internship term with an expected graduation date between December 2027 and 2029. Rivian's Internship Program requires active student enrollment. Information regarding your expected degree completion date is collected solely to verify eligibility and determine your availability for future full-time opportunities. Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and does not use graduation dates to determine the age of applicants or as a basis for discriminatory hiring decisions.

If you are not pursuing a degree, please see our full time positions on our Rivian careers site.

Our Spring Co-Op program runs from Jan - Aug, 2027

In order to be considered for this role, you must be available to work full time (40 hours per week), onsite, for the entire duration. If you are unable to work during the spring semester, please apply to our Summer Internship Program.

No Visa Sponsorship

Note that if your university has specific requirements for internship programs, it is your responsibility to fulfill those requirements.

Powertrain Test Engineering Intern (description)

Rivian is looking for a Powertrain Test Engineering Intern to support the validation of electric powertrain systems in a laboratory environment. In this role, the intern will provide additional support for planned continuous-improvement projects and assist experienced test engineers with lab-readiness activities in preparation for testing future 900 V platforms. This opportunity is designed for a student who wants practical experience with test setup, instrumentation, data collection, and engineering analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support engineers with vehicle, system, and component-level powertrain testing.
• Help prepare test setups, instrumentation, and data-acquisition equipment.
• Support the development or improvement of test scripts and data-processing tools.
• Assist with the design and setup of laboratory upgrade projects.
• Lead and complete a defined continuous-improvement project.

Qualifications

• Must be currently pursuing a bachelors, masters, or PhD degree at an accredited university.
• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Automotive, Controls, or a related engineering field.
• Basic understanding of engineering fundamentals and data analysis.
• Interest in electric vehicles, powertrains, testing, or validation.
• Basic programming or scripting experience, such as Python or MATLAB.
• Prior hands-on experience through a class project, student team, or laboratory.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $38.00-45.00/HR for Irvine based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and medical insurance benefits. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. 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.

Rivian 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 and Technology

Rivian 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 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) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian 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 affiliates; and (iii) Rivian's service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, 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.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.