Test Automation Engineer Intern - Fall 2026

NextGenEnergyJobs; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

NextGenEnergyJobs in San Francisco, CA invites a Test Automation Engineer Intern for Fall 2026. You will write Python tests for firmware, develop hardware test tools, and help bring up test stands alongside engineers. You’ll analyze failures with CAN and test instrumentation and contribute to CI regression coverage.

The role offers hands-on hardware exposure and a chance to present results to the team at internship end, with mentorship and growth in a fast-paced energy storage environment.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a BS or MS in EE, CE, CS or related field.
• Proficiency in Python and testing with pytest.
• Experience with Git and PR workflows.
• Solid fundamentals in circuit concepts and lab safety.

Responsibilities

• Write and maintain Python test automation for firmware validation.
• Develop drivers and tooling for test hardware and protocols.
• Assist in bring-up of new test stands and documentation.
• Investigate failures using logs and measurements.
• Contribute to CI regression coverage and internal tooling.

Skills

Python

pytest

Git

Linux cli

Education

BS or MS in Electrical Engineering

BS or MS in Computer Engineering

BS or MS in Computer Science

Mechatronics

Tools

CI/CD pipelines

SCPI/Modbus/CAN

Job description

Test Automation Engineer Intern - Fall 2026

• Test Automation: Write and maintain Python test automation for firmware and hardware validation, using pytest and our internal test frameworks.
• Instrument Control: Develop drivers and tooling for programmable power supplies, electronic loads, data acquisition, and switching hardware over protocols like SCPI, CAN, and Modbus.
• Test Stand Bring-Up: Help bring up new test stands — from fixtures and wiring through the software that sequences them — as we expand our validation capability.
• System Debugging: Investigate real failures on real equipment, using CAN traces, instrument logs, and bench tools to determine whether the fault lies in the test code, the fixture, or the unit under test.
• Continuous Integration: Add regression coverage to our CI pipelines so firmware changes are validated automatically rather than by hand.
• Documentation & Process: Contribute to documentation and test processes that support taking test systems from prototype toward production.
• You'll own a scoped project end to end and present your results to the engineering team at the close of the internship.

Requirements

• Background: Currently pursuing a BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Programming Foundations: Working proficiency in Python, including comfort reading and modifying a codebase you did not write.
• Testing Experience: Experience writing automated tests with pytest or a comparable framework, from coursework, projects, or prior internships.
• Version Control: Experience with Git and a pull-request-based development workflow.
• EE Fundamentals: Solid grasp of circuit basics — voltage, current, resistance, and power, and how they relate — sufficient to predict what a measurement should read and recognize when it doesn't.
• Hardware Fundamentals: Able to read a schematic, wiring diagram, or datasheet and act on it; hands-on experience working safely around energized equipment — power supplies, loads, or battery hardware — from lab work, projects, or prior internships.
• Communication Protocols: Familiarity with CAN, Modbus, SCPI, or other instrument and industrial protocols is a plus, even if only from classwork or personal projects.
• Linux: Familiarity with the Linux command line is a plus.
• Curiosity & Rigor: A safety-conscious mindset, strong attention to detail, and eagerness to learn how production test systems are built. Prior industry or energy storage experience is not expected.
• In accordance with California pay transparency laws, the salary range for this position is listed below. Actual compensation may vary based on a variety of factors, including experience, education, and skills.