Embedded Software / Electrical 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 

Parallel Systems is seeking an Embedded Software / Electrical Engineering Intern to support development and bring-up of vehicle electrical and embedded systems for our Mk3 platform. This is a hands-on role for someone who likes both coding and hardware work. You will write software that interfaces directly with real devices, while also helping build, wire, test, and debug the physical systems those devices live in. 

This is not a pure software internship and not a pure circuit design internship. The right person is excited to move between writing embedded code, bringing up hardware on the bench, building harnesses, crimping connectors, debugging communications, and helping turn early prototypes into robust vehicle systems. Your work will span devkits, test benches, harnesses, and prototype vehicle hardware as you help accelerate Mk3 bring-up. 

What You Will Work On 

You will contribute to a specific Mk3 subsystem that includes both embedded software and electrical integration work. Your assignment will be scoped based on team priorities, but example areas include: 

• Braking system integration: supporting embedded control logic, I/O bring-up, sensor and actuator interfacing, harness integration, and validation of electrically controlled braking hardware 
• Drivetrain and actuator interfaces: writing and testing software for motor controllers, inverters, and related components while supporting bench wiring, connectorization, and hardware debugging 
• Charging and power system integration: helping implement software interfaces for charging hardware and supporting electrical bring-up, low-voltage integration, and test setup of related components 
• Vehicle communications: developing and validating interfaces across CAN, Ethernet, serial, SPI, I2C, or UART while also troubleshooting physical layer issues, wiring problems, and bench integration challenges 
• Sensor and diagnostics integration: bringing up onboard sensors and electrical devices used for telemetry, health monitoring, and vehicle operation, including both software integration and physical installation or rework 

Regardless of subsystem, you will work through a structured engineering lifecycle that includes requirements review, concept development, implementation, bench testing, integrated prototype testing, and documentation of results. 

What to Expect 

• Weeks 1-2: Onboarding, Mk3 vehicle architecture overview, development environment setup, lab and shop orientation, codebase familiarization, and initial support on a hardware bring-up or integration task 
• Weeks 3-4: Subsystem assignment, review of requirements and interfaces, support for wiring, bench setup, and initial software or hardware debugging work with mentorship from the team 
• Weeks 5-7: Implementation of embedded software tasks, support for harnessing and connector work, subsystem bench testing, and iterative debugging across hardware and software boundaries 
• Weeks 8-10: Integration onto prototype hardware, test execution, issue investigation, design or implementation updates, and participation in team design and test reviews 
• Weeks 11-12: Final integration and validation work, documentation of findings and recommended next steps, and presentation of results to the broader engineering team 

Progress will be tracked through weekly check-ins, design and test reviews, bench and vehicle integration work, and feedback from the broader engineering team. 

Basic Requirements 

• Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field. 
• Hands-on experience with embedded systems through internships, student teams, coursework, or personal projects. 
• Programming experience on microcontrollers or embedded Linux systems, with demonstrated ability to work close to hardware. 
• Experience building or debugging real hardware systems, not just writing code in simulation. 
• Experience with basic electrical integration work such as wiring, connectorization, soldering, crimping, or bench bring-up. 
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to debug issues that cross hardware and software boundaries. 
• Comfort working in a hands-on engineering environment where part of the job is at a computer and part of the job is at the bench, in the lab, or on a prototype. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience with Rust, C, or C++ in embedded environments. 
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, or similar. 
• Experience with wiring harnesses, connector pinouts, crimping tools, and electrical test equipment. 
• Exposure to embedded Linux, RTOS environments, or hardware-in-the-loop testing. 
• Experience from hands-on extracurricular engineering teams such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, rocket club, solar car, autonomous systems teams, or similar. 
• Experience bringing up sensors, actuators, motor controllers, or other real electromechanical systems. 
• Strong documentation habits and attention to detail in physical builds. 

Compensation 

The expected hourly rate for this role is $50/hr.