Software Engineering Intern (Embedded, Backend, Fullstack)

Notre Dame; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

Notre Dame in Los Angeles is seeking driven software engineering students to develop software for autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles and supporting platforms. You will work on control software for braking, drivetrain, actuators, and power systems on microcontrollers or embedded Linux.

You will gain hands-on experience with vehicle communications (CAN, Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART), sensor integration, telemetry, data pipelines, and web-based monitoring tools, while contributing to CI/CD,

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in CS/CE/EE/Robotics or related field.
• Hands-on software experience from internships, student teams, research, coursework, or personal projects.
• Strong programming skills in Rust, C, C++, Python, Go, or TypeScript.
• Experience building software that works in real-world environments beyond class assignments or simulations.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug across system boundaries.
• Clear communication skills and willingness to collaborate and share progress early.
• Excitement about hands-on, hard-tech environments where software interacts with physical vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Develop software for autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles and supporting platforms.
• Work on vehicle control software including braking, drivetrain, actuators, and power systems on microcontrollers or embedded Linux.
• Develop and validate vehicle communications interfaces such as CAN, Ethernet, SPI, I2C, or UART, including bench debugging.
• Integrate sensors and diagnostics for telemetry, health monitoring, and vehicle operation.
• Build fleet and telemetry services, data pipelines, APIs, and web applications for vehicle monitoring and management.
• Improve developer and test infrastructure including CI/CD, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, deployment, and observability.
• Own a scoped project from requirements through delivery, with mentor support and design/code reviews.
• Follow a structured engineering lifecycle: requirements review, design, implementation, testing, and documentation.

Skills

Rust

C/C++

Python

Embedded Linux

TypeScript

Problem solving

Education

Pursuing degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field

Tools

CAN

SPI

I2C

UART

Ethernet

Job description

Your Role

Here’s what you will be doing:

• Develop software for autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles and supporting platforms.
• Work on vehicle control software including braking, drivetrain, actuators, and power systems on microcontrollers or embedded Linux.
• Develop and validate vehicle communications interfaces such as CAN, Ethernet, SPI, I2C, or UART, including bench debugging.
• Integrate sensors and diagnostics for telemetry, health monitoring, and vehicle operation.
• Build fleet and telemetry services, data pipelines, APIs, and web applications for vehicle monitoring, dispatch, and management.
• Improve developer and test infrastructure including CI/CD, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, deployment, and observability.
• Own a scoped project from requirements through delivery, working closely with a mentor and participating in design and code reviews.
• Follow a structured engineering lifecycle: requirements review, design, implementation, testing, and documentation.

About You

The company is looking for candidates who have:

• Current pursuit of a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or related field.
• Hands-on software experience from internships, student teams, research, coursework, or personal projects.
• Strong programming skills in at least one language such as Rust, C, C++, Python, Go, or TypeScript.
• Experience building software that works in real-world environments beyond class assignments or simulations.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug across system boundaries.
• Clear communication skills and comfort with asking questions and sharing progress early.
• Excitement about working in a hands-on, hard-tech environment where software interacts with physical vehicles.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience with Rust, C, or C++ on microcontrollers or embedded Linux.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, or Ethernet.
• Experience building APIs, distributed services, data pipelines, or full-stack web applications.
• Knowledge of databases, cloud infrastructure, containers, or CI/CD.
• Exposure to RTOS environments, simulation, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience with sensors, actuators, motor controllers, or electromechanical systems.
• Participation in hands-on extracurricular engineering teams like Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, rocket club, solar car, or autonomous systems teams.
• Strong documentation habits and attention to detail.

Compensation & Benefits

• Target hourly rate of $50 USD, commensurate with candidate’s final level.
• Note: This rate reflects base compensation only and does not include equity or benefits.