Fall 2026

Research Park Intern

ML AI Motor Controls Algorithm

Deadline 7/22/27
Rivian

Rivian

10,001+ employees

Designs and sells electric adventure vehicles direct-to-consumer

Compensation Overview

$25 - $40/hr

Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

Champaign, IL, USA

In Person

Master's, PhD

Category
AI & Machine Learning (1)
Required Skills
LLM
Scikit-learn
Python
Data Visualization
Neural Networks
Machine Learning
Pandas
NumPy
C/C++

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Requirements
  • Currently pursuing a master's or PhD degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a PhD preferred.
  • Actively pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in artificial intelligence practices and feeding large language models with data and knowledge bases.
  • Demonstrate expertise in Python, including Pandas, NumPy, and Scikit-learn, for data analysis and modeling.
  • Have advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of classification algorithms such as support vector machines, decision trees, and artificial neural networks, as well as model evaluation metrics including F1-score, precision, and recall.
  • Have practical experience with C or C++ for embedded systems development and code review.
  • Have coursework or project experience with signal-processing techniques such as Fast Fourier Transform, wavelet transforms, or control theory.
  • Understand functional safety principles under ISO 26262.
Responsibilities
  • Design and implement Python-based tools to parse, decode, and extract features from automotive PCAP logs.
  • Apply signal-processing techniques to transform vehicle data and perform large-scale analysis of relevant corner cases.
  • Research, develop, and train machine learning models such as decision trees, random forests, and neural networks for prediction, detection, and classification tasks.
  • Architect an end-to-end workflow that processes raw vehicle logs, performs automated analysis, and prepares data for model training.
  • Create dashboards for a general audience that clearly present outcomes to support decision-making.
Desired Qualifications
  • Have a PhD degree.
  • Have coursework or project experience with signal-processing techniques such as Fast Fourier Transform, wavelet transforms, or control theory.
  • Understand functional safety principles under ISO 26262.

Rivian makes electric vehicles with a focus on outdoor adventure. Its lineup includes the R1T electric pickup and the R1S electric SUV, designed for both on‑road driving and off‑road exploration. The vehicles run on electric propulsion with battery packs and motors, and Rivian supports customers through direct-to-consumer sales and a suite of ownership services, plus gear and accessories tailored for their vehicles. Unlike traditional automakers that rely on dealerships, Rivian sells online and in showrooms, building a direct relationship with buyers and offering updates and new features via software. Its products emphasize sustainability, performance, and the ability to explore nature with lower environmental impact, aided by a growing ecosystem of services and gear. Rivian’s goal is to help people explore the world responsibly by providing durable, high‑performance electric adventure vehicles and a cohesive ownership experience that includes software updates, services, and gear.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Irvine, California

Founded

2009

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 revenue rose 27% to $1.66 billion, with gross profit turning positive.
  • R2 deliveries began June 9, 2026, and demo drives hit a record 57,000.
  • July 2026 raised delivery guidance to 65,000-70,000 and cut capex by $250 million.

What critics are saying

  • Rivian lost $837 million in Q2 2026 and still burns cash on R2 ramp.
  • Hundreds of layoffs in June 2026 signal pressure on sales, marketing, and margins.
  • Georgia's 300,000-unit factory depends on DOE funding; failure breaks Rivian's mass-market path.

What makes Rivian unique

  • R1T, R1S, and R2 combine adventure branding with vertically integrated EV hardware and software.
  • Amazon still uses over 40,000 Rivian vans, anchoring commercial scale and fleet credibility.
  • Volkswagen joint-venture software revenue reached $308 million in Q2 2026, proving platform value.

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Benefits

Ownership for All: We offer every employee the opportunity to own Rivian stock through equity programs, supporting their financial wellness.

Mental and Emotional Wellness: We provide employees and their families access to mental wellness platforms and our Employees Assistance Program

Fertility and Family Planning: We support diverse family-building journeys, providing employees with benefits such as paid parental leave and financial support for adoption, fertility treatments or surrogacy.

Competitive Compensation: We offer competitive compensation packages driven by mutual investment in our long-term growth and success.

Career Development: We enable all employees to own their development. Continuous learning opportunities and tuition reimbursement help drive performance, boost engagement and develop future leaders.

Transgender Benefits: In alignment with WPATH guidelines, our 2022 plans provide coverage toward medical, pharmacy and cosmetic needs.

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Yahoo Finance
Aug 7th, 2026
Rivian's automotive gross profit predicted to turn positive by Q3

Rivian is poised to achieve positive automotive gross profit by the third quarter, marking a crucial milestone in its path to profitability. During Q2, the electric vehicle maker's automotive gross profit loss narrowed to $36 million, a significant improvement from the previous year's $335 million loss. The company's consolidated gross profit reached $179 million in Q2, up $385 million year-over-year. This was driven largely by its software and services segment, which generated $215 million at a 42% margin. Rivian has consistently improved its vehicle unit economics, unlike rival Lucid, which has remained flat in gross profitability. The upcoming R2 ramp-up will test whether Rivian can sustain this momentum, as the new model is expected to cost roughly half as much to produce as its R1 vehicles.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 5th, 2026
Rivian CEO warns Chinese EV makers pose cost threat as Uber robotaxi plan targets 2028

Rivian's CEO has warned that Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers pose a significant competitive threat due to their lower cost structures and access to government-backed capital. These advantages could put pressure on Western EV makers' pricing and margins. The company also updated investors on its partnership with Uber, targeting deployment of autonomous robotaxis in urban areas by 2028. Rivian views this collaboration as central to its longer-term mobility and autonomy strategy. Current Q2 figures show revenue of $1.66 billion and a net loss of $833 million. The company is attempting to balance immediate cost pressures from Chinese rivals with longer-term bets on autonomous vehicles and software-based revenue streams.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Aug 1st, 2026
What's taking place at Rivian's Georgia factory site? A lot.

What's taking place at Rivian's Georgia factory site? A lot. 'All those buildings are going to be coming out of the ground simultaneously' and soon, says Rivian facilities executive. Jimmy Knauf, executive vice president of facilities at Rivian, describes the design of the Stanton Springs plant, based on a rendering, after touring Rivian's East Coast headquarters in Atlanta on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC) 10 hours ago Vertical construction doesn't just mean buildings rising above Georgia's clay-stained dirt. It also includes subterranean work, and there's plenty of that taking place an hour east of Atlanta at the site of Rivian's future $5 billion electric vehicle factory, according to the company's leaders. Rivian CEO and founder RJ Scaringe told investors last week that the Georgia construction project is "progressing well" and will provide a needed manufacturing boost at a critical time for the startup. Multiple executives went into more detail Tuesday with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at Rivian's new East Coast headquarters off the Beltline. tsom" krow lliw kcitpu yawrednu owt ot ot eht eht eht eht eht taht gnikat gnipmats nrehtuos dias daor .sesserp ,ecalp no fo elbaeciton ylraen latem evissam gniyal si si ni ni krowdnuorg snoitadnuof rof rof citamard .seitnuoc noitcurtsnoc xelpmoc .emoc supmac "gnidliub dliub eb dna dna osla notlaW eciV ytilitU ynoT regnaS naiviR noitcudorP tnediserP nagroM seitilicaF noitavacxE erca-000,2 llA" ot esoht eht ",ylsuoenatlumis .dias tuo fo dnuorg gniog gnimoc sgnidliub eb era regnaS ll'eW" dnA" gnikrow htiw su pu ot "esoht neht eht eht maet os noitcudorp ruo fo gnirutcafunam gnidnal ni ni ni eh evah tnempiuqe gnireenigne hcae liatevod .deunitnoc ylesolc nac sgnidliub nigeb era VE .8202 ",7202 Tony Sanger, Rivian's vice president for production facilities in Georgia, along with Claire McDonough, chief financial officer, answers questions from the press after a tour of Rivian's East Coast headquarters in Atlanta on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC) htrow .srekrow htiw ot eht eht .tcejorp tcejorp gnigdelp egakcap eno dereffo fo lacol sredael ,tsegral si evitnecni rof yrotcaf detamitse yolpme ynapmoc yb noillib dna na na ehT etatS naiviR naiviR s'aigroeG desab-ainrofilaC 005,7 5.1$ saw eht hcet s'etats ecnis skcabtes tnalp fo raen elpitlum snioj ti .seirtsudni ni sah decaf troffe syaled enotsrenroc naelc noillib otua sa decnuonna dna dna osla a hannavaS s'naiviR tI s'iadnuyH rebmeceD .1202 6.7$ htiw ot ot eht eht yraropmet etats detfihs dias deniamer noitcudorp tnalp desuap ,esuap gninepo slaiciffo fo wen ledom ezisdim erusaem sti sti ti laitini ni ni ni gnidloh gnikaerbdnuorg ,yrotcaf yrotcaf gnitsixe gnittuc-tsoc dettimmoc ynomerec dellac sa dna a a a .rebmetpeS VUS naiviR naiviR 2R hcraM .sionillI aigroeG aigroeG etipseD 4202 The Rivian 2,000-acre project site will soon be fully active with construction crews after the groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Walton and Morgan Counties. (Miguel Martinez/AJC) lliw .selcihev esu ot ot eht taht ecaps retsis dias pmup noitcudorp snalp dennalp esahp tuo fo sledom evah sah tsrif s'yrotcaf ,etelpmoc yticapac dellac launna dna dna na naiviR .X3R 3R s2R ecnO tI 000,003 ,raey htiw hcihw ot siht eht eht detals ,sixatobor s'tnalp pihsrentrap .senil rof ynapmoc dliub ylbmessa era decnuonna osla a rebU aigroeG reilraE hcihw skcurt ot eht eht naht elbazis dias .elbatiforp ecirp stniop pukcip fo ,sledom rewol sredael egral sti evitareti teelf pihsgalf cirtcele remotsuc laicurc s'ynapmoc tsaob gnimoceb esab gnitcartta era dna dna dna a ,sVUS naiviR 2R 1R eW" ot retrauq-dnoces dias ",ytilibatiforp ruo no fo mret-gnol htworg emag rof tcepxe sgninrae revird sremotsuc regnahc .llac eb dna dna a a a egniracS s'naiviR 2R tey elihw nrut ot ot ot elacs gniyler .ytilibatiforp tiforp spihsrentrap no rallod-noillibitlum ti si srotsevni sah detekcop-peed dna dna smia a naiviR s'raey .raey emit eht eht naht dnoces dnoces emas eunever .sevreser detroper .retrauq ,retrauq detsop fo ylraen erom ,noillim ssol tsal tsal esaercni ni ni sah morf morf gnirud esaerced ynapmoc hsac noillib noillib rekamotua osla a a a ehT ehT naiviR %72 %52 738$ 3.5$ 7.1$ htiw snoisrev owt ot eht strats tes ecirp .sserp esiarp wen ledom ledom .7202-dim rewol hcnual nioj ni ni sah denrae evitomotua ta ehT ehT 2R ,099,75$ A Rivian R2 model is seen on a parking deck at Rivian's East Coast headquarters in Atlanta on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. Rivian's headquarters has 130 employees and is expected to grow to 500 by 2030. (Miguel Martinez/AJC) ylhguor" ytilitu dlot ot eht eht eht eht dias ecirp tniop ecnamrofrep ,reciffo fo fo fo ton ssam .tekram s'ti si flah flah gnidnif laicnanif lacitirc tsoc feihc ylniatrec ytilibapac tub dna na na a ehS s'naiviR s'2R ".1R 1R ,hguonoDcM erialC CJA sah" hcihw tahw ew ot ot eht eht eht naht ".langis dias ,snoitavreser snoitavreser desaeler etar noitcudorp .tnalp sredro no ton cirtem yllufgninaem evissam yek gniyfitsuj si rehgih sah taerg morf ,detcepxe noisnapxe atad noisrevnoc ynapmoc yb tub thguorb neeb a a ehT s'tahT egniracS 2R aigroeG lliw" htiw lliw gniklaw eciv elcihev .sliart ,skcart eht eht taht ,etis etis wohs .ecivres selas dias ylhguor sgniredner tnediserp "devreserp no fo fo spam ,dnal nioj flah citnagig detserof rof rof desucof yrotcaf seitilicaf seitilicaf evitucexe gnivird gnigrahc setispmac gnidliub eb ta dna dna dna gnola serca tuoba a ,naiviR weN ,fuanK ymmiJ VE 000,1 Credit: Courtesy of Rivian This is an aerial rendering of Rivian's planned $5 billion factory in southern Morgan and Walton counties. (Courtesy of Rivian) lliw lliw kcurt ciffart ot ot eht rups dias liar edivorp .strop etis-no no wen raen egnahcretni .yrotcaf yltcerid noitcerid noitcennoc gnirb dna na a laicoS fuanK 02-I s'aigroeG elcriC XSC atnaltA A eW" dnA" htiw ew deirt ciffart ot yeht neht meht eht eht eht naht noos etis ".sdaor rehtar kciuq llup cilbup elbissop ruo etis-no no ffo otni ",etatsretni teg laed yllacisab sa sa sa sa lla .dedda regnaS htiw saw ot ot ot ot deit hguorht eht eht eht naht naht kcots .serahs gnilles dias desiar ,sesoprup cilbup .tnalp no ,gnireffo fo erom erom noillim naol naol ti gnidulcni pleh lareneg gnidnuf rof tsrif stcepxe ytiuqe ylrae ward etaroproc stnemtimmoc yb dliub noillib noillib eb elba a s'naiviR naiviR naiviR hguonoDcM ,yluJ nI aigroeG ygrenE tnemtrapeD 68 .7202 5.4$ 3.1$ hcihw eht ekats snwo snwo ni osla tuoba a .naiviR ,sesirpretnE xoC ,CJA %3 Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 31st, 2026
Rivian's path to profitability hinges on $8,200 per-vehicle ramp cost

Rivian Automotive's stock trades 25% below its 52-week high, but cost improvements could drive the next rally. The company has shown seven instances of gains exceeding 30% since 2022. Consolidated gross margin improved from 9% in Q1 2026 to 11% in Q2, with revenue reaching $1.66 billion, up 27% year over year. The automotive segment's gross profit loss narrowed to $36 million from $62 million. Cost of goods sold ran $96,700 per vehicle in Q2, including roughly $8,200 in ramp costs from expedited freight and supplier premiums. Excluding these temporary expenses, the figure drops to $88,400, about $5,000 better than Q1. These ramp costs are expected to decline as production volumes increase. The company's new model production began on a single shift, with a second shift targeted by the end of Q3 2026.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 31st, 2026
Rivian narrows Q2 loss to $0.47 per share, revenue up 27% as R2 deliveries launch

Rivian reported second-quarter revenue of $1.66 billion, up 27% year-on-year and exceeding expectations of $1.52 billion. The electric vehicle maker posted an adjusted loss of $0.47 per share, narrower than the anticipated $0.65 per share loss. The company achieved $179 million in consolidated gross profit, reversing a $206 million loss from the same period last year. Rivian produced 12,613 vehicles and delivered 12,194 during the quarter. The company began external deliveries of its R2 vehicle, which CEO RJ Scaringe called "a game changer" for long-term growth. Automotive revenue rose 23% to $1.14 billion, whilst software and services revenue increased 37% to $515 million. Rivian raised its 2026 delivery guidance by 3,000 vehicles and improved its adjusted EBITDA outlook by $50 million at the midpoint.