Freshman Software Engineering Intern Jobs in Champaign, IL

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. 

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. 

Internship Term: Fall 2026

Rivian internships are experiences optimized for student candidates.To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited program during the internship term with an expected graduation date between December 2026 through May 2028. Rivian's Internship Program requires active student enrollment. Information regarding your expected degree completion date is collected solely to verify eligibility and determine your availability for future full-time opportunities. Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and does not use graduation dates to determine the age of applicants or as a basis for discriminatory hiring decisions.  

If you are not pursuing a degree, please see our full time positions on our Rivian careers site. 

Note that if your university has specific requirements for internship programs, it is your responsibility to fulfill those requirements. 

We are seeking a motivated FPGA Design Engineering intern to join our Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) validation team. In this role, you will help build and maintain cutting-edge HIL testing infrastructure designed to evaluate and validate next-generation autonomous driving systems. You will focus on translating algorithmic camera data processing models into robust FPGA hardware implementations, configuring system-level IPs, and supporting end- to-end hardware-software integration.

• Algorithm-to-RTL Implementation: Translate existing fixed-point mathematical models into optimized, custom camera data processing RTL modules.
• RTL Development: Write robust custom RTL modules in SystemVerilog, Verilog, or VHDL to manage high-throughput data flows and control logic.
• IP Integration: Instantiate, configure, and integrate third-party and vendor soft IPs (e.g., memory controllers, high-speed interconnects, standard interfaces) into the top-level design.
  
• Simulation & Timing Verification: Set up and run functional simulations, analyze timing reports, perform static timing analysis (STA), and resolve timing violations to ensure design stability.
  
• Build & Bitstream Management: Manage the full FPGA build flow (synthesis, place-and-route), generate bitstreams, and handle target FPGA hardware flashing and bring-up in the lab.
  
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with system software engineers to ensure the FPGA hardware architecture seamlessly supports software integration, data transfer interfaces, and real-time processing demands.
  
• HIL Validation Support: Participate in hardware bring-up, debugging, and continuous integration testing within the autonomous vehicle HIL testing framework. 

• Must be currently pursuing a bachelors, masters, or PhD degree at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
• Actively pursuing a degree or one closely related in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science
• Hands-on experience with SystemVerilog, Verilog, or VHDL through coursework, academic projects, or internships.
  
• Solid understanding of digital logic design, finite state machines (FSMs), pipelining concepts, fixed-point arithmetic, and basic digital signal/data processing principles.
  
• Familiarity with major FPGA EDA suites (e.g., AMD/Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus) and simulation tools (e.g., ModelSim, QuestaSim, Vivado Simulator).
  
• Basic understanding of common system buses and interfaces (e.g., AXI4, APB, PCIe, Ethernet, SPI, or UART).
  
• Strong analytical and debugging skills with a willingness to work hands-on with hardware testing equipment (logic analyzers, oscilloscopes).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Exposure to video/image processing pipelines or camera protocols (e.g., MIPI CSI-2 and GMSL).
• Scripting experience (Python, TCL, or Bash) for automating build flows, simulations, and data analysis.
• Basic understanding of C/C++ or embedded software development to better interface with software teams.

#LI-HH2

The salary range for this role is $25.00-40.00 per hour for Illinois based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and medical insurance benefits. Internship positions are not eligible for retirement benefits.  More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com. 

You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). There is no fixed deadline for this application; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the role is filled or the opening is no longer needed.

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. 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.

Rivian 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.

Rivian 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 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) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. 

Rivian 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 affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. 

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, 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.  

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.

• Must be currently pursuing a bachelors, masters, or PhD degree at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
• Actively pursuing a degree or one closely related in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science
• Hands-on experience with SystemVerilog, Verilog, or VHDL through coursework, academic projects, or internships.
  
• Solid understanding of digital logic design, finite state machines (FSMs), pipelining concepts, fixed-point arithmetic, and basic digital signal/data processing principles.
  
• Familiarity with major FPGA EDA suites (e.g., AMD/Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus) and simulation tools (e.g., ModelSim, QuestaSim, Vivado Simulator).
  
• Basic understanding of common system buses and interfaces (e.g., AXI4, APB, PCIe, Ethernet, SPI, or UART).
  
• Strong analytical and debugging skills with a willingness to work hands-on with hardware testing equipment (logic analyzers, oscilloscopes).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Exposure to video/image processing pipelines or camera protocols (e.g., MIPI CSI-2 and GMSL).
• Scripting experience (Python, TCL, or Bash) for automating build flows, simulations, and data analysis.
• Basic understanding of C/C++ or embedded software development to better interface with software teams.

#LI-HH2