OVERVIEWJOB TITLE: Motor Control System Development Engineering Summer Intern
LOCATION: St. Paul
PAY RATE: 16.50
JOB SUMMARY: We are seeking a motivated Electrical or Computer Engineering student to design, build, and validate a multi-motor control system for an educational robotics platform. The project focuses on developing a robust, user-friendly controller capable of independently operating four 12V DC motors, with an emphasis on reliability, safety, and instructional usability.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: - Design and develop a multi-motor control system capable of independently operating four 12V DC motors, including speed (PWM) and direction control
- Evaluate and select appropriate hardware components, including microcontrollers and motor drivers, based on system requirements such as voltage, current (≥5A stall per motor), and control capability
- Develop, test, and debug embedded software to implement motor control logic, user input handling, and system responsiveness
- Design and implement a user control interface, including mapping input devices (e.g., switches or controller inputs) to motor behavior
- Define and implement system communication architecture, including wired or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth or RF) communication between controller and system
- Design and validate the power system, including battery selection, current capacity (up to 20A peak), runtime requirements (≥30 minutes), and electrical protection features
QUALIFICATIONS- Current student pursuing a BS or MS degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, graduating approximately June 2027
- Must be comfortable working independently with hardware, comfortable debugging both code and physical circuits, and able to document work clearly for a non-expert audience
- ECE or Computer Engineering student with coursework in embedded systems, circuits, or robotics
- Hands-on experience with microcontrollers (Arduino, ESP32, or similar) is a plus
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS - Embedded systems and programming
- Motor control and electronics
- Power systems and electrical design
- System integration
- Ability to research, develop, and implement a project with little guidance
ELIGIBILITYTo be eligible for student employment, St. Thomas students must be degree seeking at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. Students must be actively enrolled at least part-time in courses for credit. For further information on eligibility please see the Student Employee Toolkit on One StThomas.
The University of St. Thomas is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.