Intern Distributed Systems Engineer Jobs in Michigan

ND Defense is seeking a Vehicle Electrical Systems Engineer to join our Engineering team in Madison Heights, MI. This role is responsible for the design, analysis, integration, and testing of bespoke mission equipment kits into International® commercial vehicle platforms for military and government applications.

The Vehicle Electrical Systems Engineer serves as the technical lead for electrical integration, working across power distribution, vehicle networking (CAN / LIN / Ethernet), wiring harness design, and system-level verification. This individual will interpret OEM electrical architectures and body builder documentation to define interfaces between the base vehicle and added subsystems, develop interface control documents, and execute bench-level and vehicle-level testing to confirm system performance against customer requirements.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience integrating electrical systems into automotive, commercial truck, or military vehicle platforms, combined with strong documentation skills and the ability to work both independently and across functions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Electrical Design & Integration

• Design, analyze, test, and integrate bespoke mission equipment kits into an array of International® vehicle electrical architectures, with a primary focus on power, ground, signal, and network interfaces.
• Configure and integrate vehicle network communication (CAN, LIN, Ethernet) to pass required signals between the vehicle and the integrated kits.
• Layout and configure wiring harnesses, including wiring schematics — properly sizing and selecting conductors, connectors, and terminals for kit integration.
• Perform electrical load analysis, power distribution design, and circuit protection sizing for added equipment.

Systems Engineering & Documentation

• Define, develop, and document vehicle-to-system (V2S) messaging requirements and interface control documents (ICDs) between the base vehicle and added subsystems.
• Interpret OEM International® and ND Defense® electrical schematics, body builder/upfitter guidelines, and datalink specifications to identify available interfaces.
• Capture and document customer system, hardware, and software requirements with full traceability.

Testing & Verification

• Perform bench-level and vehicle-level integration, testing, and troubleshooting to verify the integrated system meets customer and contractual requirements.
• Develop and execute test plans and procedures; document results in formal test reports.

Collaboration & Communication

• Interface with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and customer representatives in design reviews, program meetings, and technical exchanges.
• Support proposal development by providing technical input, level-of-effort estimates, and electrical integration assessments for new programs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science.
• Must be a U.S. citizen (ITAR requirement).
• Minimum 3 years of post-graduate working experience in vehicle electrical integration (automotive, commercial truck, or military vehicle level preferred).
• Experience with vehicle network CAN communications (J1939 protocol).
• Experience integrating equipment or kits into an existing vehicle electrical architecture, including interpreting OEM wiring and body builder/upfitter documentation.
• Ability to read, understand, and create electrical schematics, with a solid understanding of electrical and electronics fundamentals.
• Familiarity with electrical load analysis, power distribution, and circuit protection.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to write concise technical reports such as interface control documents and test procedures.
• Initiative to work independently and manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Ability to work in, on, under, and around large vehicles.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with military vehicle electrical systems or defense vehicle upfitting/integration programs.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD specifications applicable to electrical systems (e.g., MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-1275, MIL-STD-1553).
• Proficiency with CAD tools for electrical design (e.g., AutoCAD Electrical, CATIA Electrical, Capital Harness, Mentor Graphics).
• Experience with vehicle diagnostic tools and CAN bus analysis software (e.g., CANalyzer, PCAN, Vehicle Spy).
• Knowledge of International® truck platforms, Diamond Logic® programming, or Navistar body builder documentation.
• Working knowledge of SAE standards (J1939, J1708/J1587).

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in office, lab, and manufacturing/production floor environments; PPE required in production and vehicle integration areas.
• Must be physically capable of working around, in, on, under, and near large commercial and military vehicles, including accessing vehicle cab and cargo areas.
• Limited travel (up to 10%) to supplier facilities, customer sites, test locations, and ND Defense manufacturing operations, including on short notice.

ND Defense LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.