Embedded Firmware and Controls Engineer Intern

We are a venture-backed manufacturing startup building the most advanced automated production facilities in the United States. We are on a mission to make American manufacturing economically viable — through intelligent machinery, automation, and a relentless focus on execution.

We are early, we are moving fast, and we are looking for exceptional people who want to build something that matters.

ROLE SUMMARY

We’re looking for an entry-level Embedded Firmware and Controls Engineer or Embedded Firmware and Controls Engineering Intern to join a small, fast-moving team designing and building large-scale industrial manufacturing equipment. This role works across the low-level firmware and motion control layer of the machine - from embedded code and control loops through hardware integration across a mixed PLC and custom electronics environment - with real hands-on ownership from day one.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

- Support the development and maintenance of embedded firmware using modern languages and toolchains for custom electronics integrated into industrial manufacturing equipment

- Implement and tune motion control systems - including servo tuning, trajectory planning, and closed-loop control - alongside senior engineers

- Write PLC control logic in Structured Text and integrate it with machine electrical and mechanical systems

- Work within or alongside real-time operating environments, ensuring deterministic, reliable control at the machine level

- Troubleshoot control and firmware issues across hardware, software, and system boundaries - from logic analysis to live machine debug on the shop floor

- Generate and maintain firmware documentation, version control practices, and controls architecture documentation

- Work directly alongside build technicians, electrical engineers, and mechanical engineers - including remote teammates - to bring up and commission complete machine systems

- Contribute to controls engineering standards and documentation practices as the function scales

REQUIRED

- Pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechatronics, or computer science from an ABET-accredited program

- Relevant coursework or projects related to embedded systems, microcontrollers, real-time systems, or control theory

- Programming experience in a language suited to embedded development (Rust, C++, C, or similar)

- Hands-on experience running code on real hardware - microcontroller dev boards, sensors, actuators, or motors - not simulation only

- Hands-on debug ability at the bench - comfortable with a multimeter, oscilloscope, and logic analyzer

- Working knowledge of Git and version control practices

- Effective communicator and collaborator in a distributed team environment - comfortable with async communication and remote-first workflows

- Flexible with schedule and hours; thrives in a startup environment where priorities shift and urgency is real

NICE-TO-HAVE

- Prior internships or co-op experience working in industry; experience at an early-stage hard tech or deep tech startup is a major plus

- Exposure to PLC programming in Structured Text or other IEC 61131-3 languages (Beckhoff TwinCAT or CODESYS a plus)

- Motor control or closed-loop control project experience - servo, stepper, PID, or encoder feedback

- RTOS exposure (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar)

- Familiarity with embedded or industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, CAN, SPI, I2C, UART)

- Leadership role on a student engineering team or competition project (FSAE, Baja, rocketry, robotics, or similar)

- Prior experience on a small team where you wore multiple hats

ADDITIONAL

- Willingness to travel as needed for vendor visits, factory acceptance testing, and on-site equipment commissioning

- Comfort with a startup pace - this role demands flexibility, self-direction, and a bias toward getting things done over waiting for perfect conditions