---
title: 'Hardware Engineering Intern (Mechanical & Electrical) at Parallel Systems'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-engineering-intern-mechanical-electrical-parallel-systems-los-angeles-0wyv7hw1gwhn'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-07'
---

# Hardware Engineering Intern (Mechanical & Electrical) at Parallel Systems

- **Company:** Parallel Systems
- **Location:** Los Angeles, CA
- **Compensation:** $50/hr
- **Posted:** 2026-10-26
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-07
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/parallel/jobs/5275660007?gh_jid=5275660007

## Job description

Parallel Systems is pioneering autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles designed to transform freight transportation by shifting portions of the $900 billion U.S. trucking industry onto rail. Our innovative technology offers cleaner, safer, and more efficient logistics solutions. Join our dynamic team and help shape a smarter, greener future for global freight.

Hardware Engineering Intern - Summer 2027 Internship

The Hardware Engineering Intern will drive progress toward initial production and production ramp-up of our next generation vehicles. This is a hands-on role spanning design and analysis work, process development and improvement, field testing, troubleshooting, and failure analysis. You will own and deliver a production subsystem or process from concept through implementation.

## What You Will Work On

Projects will be scoped based on team priorities during the internship, but may include:

- Design and implementation of end-of-line testing for Mk3 pneumatic and brake systems
- Design, analysis, and deployment of improved powertrain installation tooling
- Design, procurement, and deployment of LV harness checkout test bench
- Design, installation, and checkout of Mk3 drag-on instrumentation system
- Design, commissioning, and implementation of gearbox onboard sensor suite

What to Expect

- Weeks 1-2: Onboarding, vehicle familiarization, facility visits, and pairing with an engineer on a small initial project
- Weeks 3-6: First project assignment with requirements gathering, benchmarking, concept design review, and prototype development
- Weeks 7-10: Final project assignment (new or continuation), full design cycle through implementation and field testing
- Weeks 11-12: Final presentation of outcomes, documentation, recommended next steps, and handover to the team

Progress will be tracked through weekly check-ins, design reviews, field testing with data review and presentation, and feedback from the broader engineering team.

## Basic Requirements

- Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (rising junior, senior, or graduate student)
- Self-motivated problem solver who takes personal ownership of challenges and drives them to completion
- Comfortable applying first-principles thinking to find creative solutions beyond your usual scope
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present design work and field test results

## Preferred Requirements

- Leadership experience on a hands-on engineering team that solves real-world problems while balancing competing priorities (e.g., FSAE, solar car, Design Build Fly, Baja SAE, or similar)
- EE candidates: CAD proficiency to enable cross-functional contributions
- ME candidates: Experience with electronics, coding, or PCBA design
- Experience with design reviews, prototyping, and iterative hardware development cycles

Please note the hourly range in the job posting reflects the new hire hourly range across levels that would be applicable to the position. Final compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s final level. Also, this range represents base compensation only and does not include equity or benefits, if applicable.

Target Hourly Range: $50—$50 USD

Parallel Systems is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any discriminatory factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. We work to build an inclusive environment in which all people can come to do their best work.

Parallel Systems is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Parallel Systems will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact your recruiter.

## About Parallel Systems

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Parallel Systems develops autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicles to convert freight from truck to rail, enabling railroads to serve new markets with a cleaner, more flexible, and cost-effective alternative to short-haul trucking.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B)
- **Headquarters**: Los Angeles, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2020
- **Founders**: Matt Soule (Founder and CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Railroad Equipment Manufacturing, Autonomous Freight, Clean Logistics
- **Target Customers**: Railroads, freight operators, ports, distribution centers, and logistics companies (B2B, Enterprise)
- **Mission/Purpose**: To provide a safer, more efficient, and sustainable alternative to short-haul trucking by seamlessly integrating autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles with existing rail operations, decongesting highways, and reducing shipping costs and pollution.

## Products & Services
- **[Autonomous, Battery-Electric Rail System](https://moveparallel.com/product/)**: A fleet of self-propelled, autonomous rail vehicles designed to haul intermodal containers up to 500 miles on a single charge. Key features include:
  - **No couplers**: Vehicles self-sort and assemble into platoons, eliminating manual coupling and enabling instant rerouting.
  - **Platooning & Aerodynamics**: Patented technology yields unprecedented range and energy efficiency.
  - **Advanced Braking**: Self-contained, adaptive braking with automatic parking brakes for shorter stopping distances.
  - **Integrated Systems**: Software platform seamlessly integrates with existing railroad train control and business systems, providing real-time data via APIs.
- **Solutions for Rail**: New line hauls (city-to-city), port shuttles (reducing drayage), and direct-to-customer service (small-footprint terminals at warehouses).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding – **USD 91,349,995** ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems))
- **Funding History**:
  - Seed Round (June 2020): $3.8M – led by Congruent Ventures
  - Series A (Jan 2022): $49.5M – led by Anthos Capital
  - Series B (May 2025): $38.0M – led by Anthos Capital
- **Notable Investors**: Anthos Capital, Congruent Ventures
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Employee headcount grew **44.7% year-over-year** to 45 employees (as of mid-2025)
  - **First commercial pilot** launched in April 2025 after receiving Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approval ([Pulse 2.0](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems))
  - Currently in **second phase of testing on Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) in Georgia** ([Railway Age, July 2025](https://www.moveparallel.com/))
  - **14 active job postings** as of July 2025, with 75% year-over-year growth in listings

## Competitive Advantages
- **Autonomous, battery-electric technology** purpose-built for rail, offering a direct alternative to short-haul trucking (a massive market consuming 45 billion gallons of diesel annually).
- **No couplers** – enables instant, automated rerouting and packetized freight, greatly improving operational flexibility compared to traditional trains.
- **Long range (500 miles) on one hour of charge** via patented platooning aerodynamics.
- **Seamless integration** with existing railroad systems, reducing adoption barriers.
- **Small footprint** allows direct service to warehouse docks and small terminals, unlocking new low-density, short-haul lanes.

## Strategic Focus
- **Commercial deployment**: Moving from testing to revenue-generating pilot operations with partner railroads.
- **Scaling manufacturing and operations**: Growing the team (especially engineering and sales) to support commercial expansion.
- **Expanding market share**: Target shorter and lower density routes currently dominated by trucking, while also enabling port shuttles and direct-to-customer rail service.
- **Sustainability-driven growth**: Position rail as a lower-emission, cost-competitive alternative to reduce the 7% of U.S. emissions from trucking.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: "A team of curious, committed problem-solvers" with a focus on inclusion, ownership, and technical excellence ([Greenhouse careers page](https://boards.greenhouse.io/parallel)).
- **Impact**: Directly influence the future of freight by building autonomous, clean rail technology that can decongest highways and cut pollution.
- **Engineering Focus**: 45% of employees are in technical roles (robotics, autonomy, ML, mechatronics) – a strong engineering-led environment.
- **Location**: Based in Los Angeles, CA (Factory Place), with a small presence in India.
- **Growth Trajectory**: Rapidly scaling (44.7% headcount growth, new Series B funding, commercial pilot underway) offering significant career development opportunities.
- **Notable alumni destinations**: SpaceX, Tesla, Vast, Rivian, Anduril – reflects a high-caliber talent pool.

## Sources
1. [Parallel Systems Website](https://www.moveparallel.com)
2. [Parallel Systems Careers (Greenhouse)](https://boards.greenhouse.io/parallel)
3. [LinkedIn Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems)
4. [Parallel Systems Product Page](https://moveparallel.com/product/)
5. [Pulse 2.0 on Series B](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems)

## Other roles at Parallel Systems

- [Supplier Quality & Readiness Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/supplier-quality-readiness-engineer-parallel-systems-los-angeles-0nkp7rwqed7n) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Senior Controls Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-controls-engineer-parallel-systems-los-angeles-gsr16gt6rmbd) — Los Angeles, CA
- [VP of Hardware](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-of-hardware-parallel-systems-los-angeles-rtbjzgcja43m) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Senior EHS Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-ehs-specialist-parallel-systems-los-angeles-7p3n28eyb08e) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Lead Electrical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-electrical-engineer-parallel-systems-los-angeles-5thb7qzz5abf) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Product Management Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/product-management-intern-parallel-systems-los-angeles-rbgjknxc849k) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Software Engineering Intern (Embedded, Backend, Fullstack)](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineering-intern-embedded-backend-fullstack-parallel-systems-los-zz7jpmypyrqr) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Senior Electrical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-electrical-engineer-parallel-systems-los-angeles-xe34mmb61j7a) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Hardware Test Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-test-engineer-ii-parallel-systems-los-angeles-6s5g0qjphvpc) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Field Vehicle Operations Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/field-vehicle-operations-specialist-parallel-systems-fillmore-60fc9cnhtfcp) — Fillmore, CA