📍
Palo Alto, CA

Student Worker Program - Hardware Test Automation Engineer

Internship
Transportation & Infrastructure
Engineering
Posted:
December 29, 2025

Ford

Global automotive manufacturer
76.1
Palpable Score
Apply >view company >

Job Description

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?

Join our Advanced EV Development (ADVEV) team for a 6-month Student Worker Program and help build the future of mobility! Immerse yourself in Ford's center of innovation and growth, working alongside top engineering, design, and software talent to create groundbreaking EVs and contribute to key technologies like batteries, charging, and recycling. This is your chance to gain hands-on experience and make a real impact on the automotive industry.

Help us build Ford’s next-generation electric powertrains while you build your career. As a Hardware Test Automation Engineer, you’ll work side-by-side with experienced engineers to develop, run, and improve automated test systems for powertrain components.

Responsibilities

What you’ll do...
• Assist with the setup and shakedown of powertrain hardware test equipment.
• Write, debug, and document basic test scripts (Python, LabVIEW, or similar) to automate data capture and repeatable test sequences
• Configure sensors and data-acquisition hardware; verify signal quality and calibrations
• Collect and visualize test data; create concise summaries or slide decks for the engineering team
• Help investigate test-stand issues (mechanical, electrical, or software) under the guidance of senior staff
• Maintain test-lab hardware inventories and update wiring diagrams, schematics, and safety checklists
• Contribute to continuous-improvement projects—anything from wiring-harness cleanup to adding new fault-injection features

Qualifications

You'll have...

• Actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
• Completion of at least sophomore-level coursework by internship start (e.g., circuits, measurements & instrumentation, programming)
• Hands-on lab, project-team, or hobby experience that shows mechanical/electrical aptitude
• Familiarity with at least one programming or scripting language (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, etc.)
• Solid problem-solving skills and willingness to ask questions

Even better, you may have...

• Exposure to CAN, LIN, or other vehicle communication networks
• Experience with National Instruments, Dewesoft, or similar data-acquisition hardware
• Coursework or project work involving control systems, power electronics, or EV technology
• Basic knowledge of statistics or design-of-experiments methods
• Familiarity with high-voltage safety practices

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

What you’ll receive in return: As part of this exciting program, you’ll enjoy a high level of involvement with an exceptional team of industry innovators and visionaries. You’ll contribute in a meaningful way to our important, breakthrough work. And you’ll develop the skills that will give you a significant edge in your future career pursuits. If you have what it takes to help us redefine the future of mobility, we’d love to have you join us.

About the company

Ford

Company overview
Ford is a global automotive company that designs, manufactures, and sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, plus connected services. Ford operates across three main customer-focused segments spanning gas and hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and software, and commercial vehicles and services. Ford also provides financing through Ford Credit. Early-career roles sit across engineering, manufacturing, IT, finance, marketing, and commercial teams, plus corporate and customer-facing operations.

Locations and presence

Ford is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan with operations across the US and globally, including engineering centers and manufacturing sites. Ford told most global salaried employees to work in-office four days per week from September 1, 2025, while internships and early-career roles vary by team between on-site and hybrid setups.

Palpable Score

76.1
/ 100
Ford has multiple reliable entry points for graduates, including a summer internship program with a stated path to full-time offers and several rotational programs for new grads and MBAs. The score is capped because Ford does not publish cohort outcomes such as internship conversion rates, early-tenure retention, or typical time-to-promotion for entry-level hires.
view full company profile >

Related jobs

📍
Heredia, Costa Rica
LSEG
Social Media Analyst
January 27, 2026
view job >
📍
Stellenbosch, South Africa
MSCI
Financial Data Analyst - IBOR
January 27, 2026
view job >
📍
Stellenbosch, South Africa
MSCI
Financial Data Associate
January 27, 2026
view job >
📍
Mumbai, India
MSCI
Financial Data Associate
January 27, 2026
view job >