Engineer I, VLA Planning and Control Deployment (Intern)

The role

The Engineer I, VLA Planning and Control Deployment (Intern) will improve planning and control algorithms used in the autonomous-driving deployment stack. This role focuses on constrained optimization, trajectory refinement, controller performance, and integration of learned model outputs with executable vehicle behavior.

What you will do

• Prototype, train, and fine-tune VLA models or supporting perception and world-model components.
• Implement a focused research project with mentor guidance.
• Prepare driving datasets and evaluation splits.
• Run controlled experiments and ablations and maintain reproducible configurations and experiment records.
• Measure model accuracy, driving behavior, robustness, and inference cost.
• Analyze failures in offline and simulation evaluation.
• Collaborate with planning and deployment engineers on model interfaces.
• Document methods, results, and limitations.
• Review code and present findings.
• Deliver a reproducible prototype and a final technical report.

Required qualifications

• Analytical thinking and structured problem solving.
• Clear written and verbal communication.
• Careful documentation.
• Collaboration across research and engineering teams.
• Foundations in numerical optimization, linear algebra, and dynamical systems.
• Hands-on experience with QP or classical control such as MPC, LQR, or PID.
• Ability to implement and debug algorithms in Python or C++.
• Ability to assess trajectory feasibility, tracking error, constraint violations, and runtime.
• Coursework, research, or project experience in optimization, motion planning, or control.
• Pursuing a degree in Operations Research, Control Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
• Must be local, no relocation.
• Immediate availability is required.

Nice to have

• Experience formulating QPs with OSQP, qpOASES, or HPIPM
• Knowledge of MPC, trajectory optimization, vehicle dynamics, and lateral / longitudinal control.
• C++, profiling, sparse numerical methods, solver warm starts, or embedded deployment.
• Simulation, log replay, software-in-the-loop, or hardware-in-the-loop validation.
• Master's or PhD study with an emphasis on operations research, optimization, control theory, or vehicle dynamics

Benefits

• Performance-based merits and annual bonus
• Medical, dental, vision
• 401k with employer match and defined contribution plan
• Short- and long-term disability
• Basic life and AD&D insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment plans
• Maternity and non-primary caregiver leave
• Adoption assistance
• Employee referral program
• Vacation and paid holidays
• Vehicle lease program that covers registration and insurance fees

Before you apply

• Pending successful completion of a standard background check and drug screening.
• Participation in the export control and sanctions compliance screening process.
• Employment may be contingent on verification of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status, or confirmation that a license, exemption, or exception applies.

About the company

CARIAD is an automotive software development team with the Volkswagen Group. They are building a unified software platform for over 10 million new vehicles per year.