Backend Engineer Intern Jobs in Irvine, CA (NOW HIRING)

About Us
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive's next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we're addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.
The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we'll map a new way forward. Working together, we'll create a future that's more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.
Candidates should be available for a full-time commitment from January 11, 2027 to August 13, 2027.
This is a general application used to fill multiple internship openings across our Connected Systems teams. If selected, you will be matched to a specific team based on your background and interests during the interview process.

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Role Summary
At RV Tech, we develop next-gen vehicle features that include remote commands from mobile apps, OTA software updates, real time vehicle telemetry, and fleet management tools. All of which rely on cloud, connectivity, and integration software working together at scale. As a Connected Systems intern, you will work on the backend services, integration layers, or connectivity infrastructure that keep vehicles talking to the cloud reliably. This may involve high throughput data pipelines, distributed cloud services, or the software that validates features work end to end across the vehicle.
Specific project areas vary by team and may include:

• Building and testing backend services that process vehicle telemetry and remote commands at fleet scale
• Developing event driven, distributed systems using tools such as Kafka, Kinesis, or Redis
• Contributing to cross domain systems integration and validation work, ensuring vehicle features function correctly end to end
• Supporting connectivity infrastructure, including the messaging and communication layers linking vehicle, mobile app, and cloud
• Working with cloud native infrastructure on AWS (EKS, Lambda, DynamoDB, IoT Core)

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test software components within an existing distributed or connectivity system
• Write clean, maintainable code in Python, Go, C++, or Java depending on the team
• Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and debugging sessions with your team
• Contribute to test automation and validation for integration or connectivity features
• Document your work and present progress to your team throughout the internship

Qualifications
Minimum:

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program at an accredited US university
• Proficient in at least one of Python, Go, C++, or Java

Preferred:

• Actively pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field, with intent to return to school after the internship
• Exposure to distributed systems, event driven architecture, or cloud platforms, AWS preferred
• Familiarity with vehicle communication protocols such as CAN or MQTT, or IoT concepts
• Coursework or project experience with backend development, systems integration, or test automation

Total Rewards
We build the exceptional - and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be is eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.
Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.
In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full-time employees - including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs.
External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.
Equal Opportunity
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 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. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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 candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.
Candidate Data Privacy
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies" 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies' service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, 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.
If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.
Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English)and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.
Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.