Project EVOLVE SELOC Energy Student Intern Olive-Harvey College
Olive-Harvey College's Project EVOLVE and its corporate partner, SELOC Energy, are seeking motivated students for the Project EVOLVE SELOC Energy Internship Program.
This hands-on internship provides students with direct experience in electric vehicle (EV) conversion, electrification systems, and advanced automotive technologies. Interns will work alongside industry professionals while gaining practical exposure to high-voltage systems, battery technologies, electric motors, diagnostics, and vehicle integration procedures.
Students will apply industry-standard safety protocols and participate in real-world EV conversion projects, including battery installation, motor system evaluation, troubleshooting, and system commissioning.
This opportunity is ideal for students interested in clean energy, transportation technology, advanced manufacturing, and EV workforce development.
Position Responsibilities
Interns may assist with and support the following:
Apply advanced safety protocols for working with lithiumion batteries, highvoltage systems, and electric drivetrains, including hazard recognition, PPE use, lockout/tagout, and emergency response procedures
Perform handson installation, removal, and handling of EV battery systems, demonstrating proper disconnection techniques, charging safety, thermal management, and compliance with MSDS requirements
Diagnose and evaluate Battery Management Systems (BMS) by interpreting alerts, monitoring stateofcharge and stateofhealth data, updating firmware, and conducting routine system diagnostics
Install, inspect, and troubleshoot electric motors and power delivery systems, including identifying overheating, mechanical failures, electrical shorts, vibration issues, and softwarerelated malfunctions
Execute highvoltage system procedures, such as isolation testing, grounding verification, arcflash risk mitigation, and emergency shutdown operations
Utilize diagnostic tools and testing equipment-including multimeters, insulation resistance testers, thermal imaging devices, and oscilloscopes-to identify faults and verify system integrity
Interpret and apply EV component specifications, including torque limits, material strength requirements, safety interlocks, and failsafe design principles
Document work accurately and professionally, maintaining compliance records, diagnostic logs, incident reports, and system installation documentation.
Participate effectively in the EV conversion process, demonstrating readiness to support realworld shop operations through safe practices, technical competence, and adherence to industry standards.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or currently pursuing a GED through City Colleges of Chicago
- Professional demeanor and willingness to learn
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Good organizational and time management skills
- Ability to analyze and solve problems
- Ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Completion of Level I or Level II EV Conversion Training through Olive-Harvey College's SELOC Training Program
- Active enrollment in Olive-Harvey College's Essential Employability Skills Academy
- Basic understanding of electrical and/or mechanical systems
- Ability to follow written and verbal technical instructions
Preferred Qualifications
Preference may be given to students with experience or interest in:
Be dependable and willing to learn
Have a basic understanding of electrical and/or mechanical systems
Have the ability to follow written and verbal technical instructions
Hands on experience in either of the following: mechanics, electrical, welding, fabrication, 3D printing, coding, information technology, and computer systems
Familiarity with EV components and/or vehicle repair
Previous shop, lab, or manufacturing experience
Skills Developed
Students participating in this internship may gain experience in:
Career readiness within the clean energy and transportation sector
Fabrication
Advanced HV safety protocols and risk assessment
Installation, testing, and validation of HV batteries, inverters, DCDC converters
Lockout/tagout (LOTO) oversight and verification
Fault isolation in HV systems
Motor and drivetrain integration
CAN bus interpretation and basic reprogramming
System compatibility assessment across EV components
Calibration support and performance verification
Rootcause analysis for electrical, mechanical, and softwarerelated failures
Interpretation of wiring diagrams, schematics, and OEM documentation
Use of advanced diagnostic tools (scan tools, multimeters, insulation testers)
Final build verification and inspection
Compliance with internal SOPs and external safety standards
Coaching Level I and II technicians during live builds
Supporting competency assessments and skill signoffs
Acting as technical escalation point for junior staff
Supporting workload distribution under Lead/Master Technician direction
Reinforcing safety culture and procedural discipline
Identifying process inefficiencies and improvement opportunities
Supporting standardization of tools, methods, and documentation
Providing field feedback for training, engineering, or management
Determining when escalation is required versus independent resolution
Prioritizing safety, compliance, and quality under production pressure
Exercising discretion in troubleshooting and system modifications
Note: The Project Evolve SELOC Energy Intern position supports the collective educational and workforce development missions of Olive-Harvey College's Project Evolve and SELOC Energy. Under the guidance of Lead or Master Technicians, the Project Evolve SELOC Energy Intern will engage in safe, supervised, and meaningful work-based learning experiences, which include but are not limited to:
Independently performing advanced conversion, diagnostic, and integration tasks; and providing technical guidance to lowerlevel technicians and supporting engineering and quality assurance activities.
Student worker rate is $17.00/hr. If variance from $17.00/hr is required, College HR/Recruitment must discuss with District Compensation.
The rate paid is in accordance with City Colleges approved salary scale.
We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Thank you for your interest in City Colleges of Chicago!
TBD