Hardware Engineering Internship, Summer 2026
Content + Source + Freshness • 11 Dec 2025 • 95% confidence
Offer value
Strong value indicated by competitive compensation and the cutting-edge nature of self-driving technology, making a substantial impact in transportation.
- Competitive hourly rate for engineering interns
- High-impact involvement in autonomous technology projects
- Opportunity to work with industry pioneers
Pros
- High hourly compensation, reflecting the value of technical expertise
- Immersive experience in a pioneering field of self-driving technology
- Collaboration with top professionals in a rapidly evolving industry
Cons
- High expectations for technical proficiency may limit applicant pool
- Potential for intense workload during critical project phases
- Limited mentorship opportunities due to broad team scope
Who it's for
Intern/Entry-level • On-site
Good fit
- Engineering students looking for immersive experience
- Individuals passionate about robotics and system design
- Interns eager to contribute to transformative technology
Not recommended for
- Candidates without relevant academic backgrounds
- Individuals seeking remote work or flexible hours
- Those preferring routine tasks over cutting-edge projects
Motivation fit
Key skills
About the job
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.
Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all. We’re searching for Summer 2026 Interns for our Hardware Teams in MountainView, CA, Pittsburgh, PA, & Bozeman, MT.
Our Hardware Engineering organization is fundamental to the development of the Aurora Driver - our revolutionary self-driving technology. Our work spans mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, product strategy, R&D, ongoing service, and more. The Aurora Driver is a complex system comprising a primary computer, the Aurora Control Interface (ACI), multiple sensors (like lidar), and various vehicle peripherals. Our teams are responsible for packaging these components into various platforms to meet our rigorous performance, reliability, and safety expectations. To engineer this novel design, the Hardware team works closely with cross-functional internal teams and external partners, using data and analysis to inform our physical products.
We are seeking interns for multiple teams across our Hardware Engineering organization. While the exact team will be determined through the interview and matching process, based on your skills and interests, here are some of the areas you could contribute to:
Lidar: Join our team and help develop cutting-edge autonomous navigation by working on lidar and advanced sensor technologies.
Hardware Systems Engineering: Interested in solving problems that span across multiple domains within hardware engineering (electrical, mechanical and embedded software) through rapid prototyping of hardware architecture solutions on various system boundaries (eg. power, networking, by wire control etc). The role will involve use of data processing techniques using Python and SQL to analyze and interpret test data.
Hardware Product Engineering: The HPE team designs, analyzes, and validates all mechanical, electrical, thermal and optical components in the Aurora Driver -- from initial concept to final vehicle integration. This team is responsible for the full range of hardware products - including computers, controllers, sensors, and lidars - ensuring their integrity and performance through rigorous analysis and testing.
Embedded Software: Our Embedded Software team creates applications for the multitude of custom hardware devices designed by our electrical engineers. We employ (and sometimes define) state-of-the-art development techniques to create robust, reliable systems with amazing levels of safety and performance.
Required Qualifications
To be considered for a Summer 2026 Hardware Engineering Internship, you should meet the following qualifications:
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline, such as Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field.
- Returning to a degree-granting program after the internship concludes (Summer/Fall 2026).
- Prior experience or coursework in at least one of the following areas: hardware design, embedded systems, robotics, mechanical design, thermal analysis, controls, power electronics, sensor technologies (like Lidar or Radar), or data analysis (Python, SQL).
We are hiring for the Hardware Engineering organization broadly, not for one specific team. Through the interview process, we will get to know you, your experience, and your career goals. This allows us to narrow down exact teams and make the best possible match with your interests and skills, ensuring you have a valuable and impactful internship experience.
We look forward to reviewing your application!
Hourly Rate in Mountain View, CA
The base hourly pay rate for this internship is as follows:
- $49.00 per hour for interns pursuing an undergraduate degree;
- $52.00 per hour for interns pursuing a master’s degree; and
- $58.00 per hour for interns pursuing a doctoral degree.
Hourly Rate in Pittsburgh, PA & Bozeman, MT
The base hourly pay rate for this internship is as follows:
- $44.00 per hour for interns pursuing an undergraduate degree;
- $47.00 per hour for interns pursuing a master’s degree; and
- $52.00 per hour for interns pursuing a doctoral degree.
Interns must be authorized to work in the United States for the duration of the internship. Aurora does not offer J-1 visa sponsorship for interns.
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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. 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.
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 careersiteaccommodations@aurora.tech.
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.
