Software Engineer Intern - Vehicle Platforms

Who we are

Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.

The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone.

At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn.

What we are looking for

We're searching for a Summer 2027 Software Engineer Intern for our Vehicle Platforms Team. This role is a unique opportunity for a systems-minded coder to work at the foundational layer of our autonomous trucks, bridging the gap between high-level autonomy software and physical vehicle hardware. You will be instrumental in ensuring our sensors, compute units, and embedded devices function as a seamless, high-performance unit, making this one of the most hands-on software roles at Aurora.

In this role you will

• Integrate Core Hardware Components: Write and maintain C++ interfaces and drivers that integrate Lidars, Radars, Cameras, and other embedded devices into the Aurora Driver stack.

• Support Platform Bring-up: Participate in the initial software "bring-up" of new vehicle platforms, ensuring the onboard compute and sensors are correctly configured and communicating.

• Optimize Onboard Performance: Profile and optimize code to ensure efficient use of limited CPU, GPU, and memory resources on the vehicle.

• Monitor Hardware Health: Develop and refine software tools that track the real-time health and telemetry of our hardware components to ensure safe fleet operations.

• Validate via HIL Infrastructure: Utilize Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments to test and verify your code changes against real-world hardware before deployment to the road.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

• Strong proficiency in C++: Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and memory management (academic or project-based).

• Hands-on Systems Experience: At least 1–2 years of relevant experience, which can be demonstrated through multiple internships, significant academic research, or professional work involving hardware-software interaction.

• Linux Fundamentals: Experience working in a Linux environment with an understanding of command-line tools and system basics.

• Exposure to Networking Protocols: Familiarity with the basics of data transport, such as TCP/IP, UDP, or serial communication.

Desirable qualifications

• Robotics or Embedded Projects: Experience with ROS/ROS2, microcontrollers (Arduino/STM32/ESP32), or hobbyist robotics.

• Familiarity with Sensors: Prior exposure to Lidar, Radar, or Camera data processing and hardware interfaces.

• Scripting Skills: Proficiency in Python for automation, data analysis, or building internal support tools.

• Automotive Knowledge: Understanding of CAN bus protocols or Automotive Ethernet basics.

• Safety Mindset: Familiarity with concepts of high-availability or safety-critical software design.

Compensation

The hourly pay rate for this internship in Mountain View is:

• $52.00 per hour for interns pursuing a bachelor’s degree; and

• $58.00 per hour for interns pursuing a master’s degree

Working at Aurora

At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together — all without any jerks.

We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy, and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, Aurorans are expected to work from the office at least 3 days per week, with some roles requiring more frequent in-office presence, up to 5 days per week, based on operational needs.

Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom.

Our commitment to safety

At the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization’s long-term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what.

Our commitment to inclusion

Aurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected].

For California applicants, information collected and processed as part of your application and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Aurora’s California Employment Privacy Policy.