Vehicle Software Engineering Intern
About The Position
Parallel Systems is pioneering autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles designed to transform freight transportation by shifting portions of the $900 billion U.S. trucking industry onto rail. Our innovative technology offers cleaner, safer, and more efficient logistics solutions. Join our dynamic team and help shape a smarter, greener future for global freight. Vehicle Software Engineering Intern - Summer 2026 Internship About Parallel Systems Parallel Systems is building the future of freight transportation with autonomous, electric rail vehicles. Our technology reimagines how goods move across the country, combining cutting-edge robotics, vehicle engineering, and software to create a cleaner, more efficient rail network. Role Summary The Vehicle Software Engineering Intern will contribute directly to the development and bring-up of software for the Mk3 vehicle platform. Working in Rust, you will write device drivers, communications interfaces, and business logic that runs on the vehicle's embedded computers. Your work will move from devkits and testbed setups to real prototype hardware, helping the team accelerate Mk3 prototype bring-up and drive toward production-ready code.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (rising junior, senior, or graduate student)
- Hands-on experience with real-world embedded systems such as robotics platforms, ground or air vehicle projects, or other sensing and actuating systems
- Programming experience on microcontrollers with a demonstrated ability to work at the hardware/software interface
- Track record of successfully working with embedded hardware in real-world settings, whether through coursework, personal projects, clubs, or prior internships
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to debug across hardware and software boundaries
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Rust programming language (strongly preferred)
- Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN bus, SPI, I2C, UART, or Ethernet in embedded contexts
- Experience with embedded Linux or RTOS environments
- Exposure to hardware-in-the-loop testing, devkit bring-up, or prototype vehicle integration
- Experience gained through hands-on extracurricular engineering teams (e.g., FSAE, RoboCup, autonomous vehicle clubs, or similar)
Responsibilities
- Own a specific Mk3 vehicle subsystem end-to-end, carrying it from system design through integrated testing on prototype hardware.
- Braking system software: developing and validating the control logic, sensor interfaces, and safety-critical communication protocols for the Mk3 pneumatic and electronic braking subsystem
- Drivetrain control: writing device drivers and control algorithms for powertrain components including motor controllers, inverters, and gearbox sensor integration
- Fast charging system: implementing the software interface between the vehicle computers and the DC fast charging hardware, including protocol handling, state machine design, and fault management
- Vehicle communications: building and testing inter-node communication interfaces (CAN, Ethernet, serial) that connect the Mk3's distributed computing architecture
- Sensor integration and diagnostics: developing drivers and data pipelines for onboard sensors used in vehicle health monitoring, telemetry, and operational decision-making
- Follow a structured engineering lifecycle: requirements gathering, concept review, critical design review, implementation, test plan development, and full-up integrated testing on prototype hardware.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
