Intern - Electrical Engineer (Winter, 2027)
Itron · Foster City · $33.17–$41.35/hr (stated in the posting)
Itron is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water. We create a more resourceful world to protect essential resources for today and tomorrow. Join us.
This part-time Electrical Engineer Intern will support Itron’s lab team on site in San Jose, California. As part of a new and growing laboratory environment, the intern will work alongside experienced engineers to help build, organize, maintain, and improve the lab while supporting engineering testing and development activities.
This is a hands-on engineering role. In addition to software and electrical engineering work, the intern should be comfortable working with hand tools and power tools, assembling equipment, building test fixtures, running cables, and performing the practical physical work required to establish and maintain an engineering lab.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Identify and troubleshoot issues across Itron mesh networks, smart-city RF communications, lab computers, connected devices, and test equipment.
- Set up and execute engineering tests, verify data quality, analyze results, and compile clear and accurate test reports.
- Collaborate with senior engineers on laboratory projects, prototypes, technical investigations, and process improvements, contributing innovative ideas and adapting to changing engineering needs.
- Help build out and maintain a new engineering laboratory, including assembling equipment, organizing work areas, installing and modifying test setups, routing cables, and supporting other hands-on lab activities.
- Safely use hand tools and power tools, including drills, drivers, crimpers, wire strippers, soldering equipment, and measurement tools, to build and modify laboratory equipment.
- Build, assemble, install, and modify custom test fixtures, cable assemblies, equipment racks, enclosures, mounting hardware, and other laboratory equipment.
- Perform hands-on mechanical and electrical assembly work as needed to support lab infrastructure and engineering projects.
- Interpret engineering drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, bills of materials, and assembly instructions when constructing or modifying equipment.
- Inspect, troubleshoot, test, and document custom-built equipment to verify electrical safety, mechanical integrity, and performance before use.
- Support equipment organization, maintenance, calibration tracking, inventory, and the safe operation of electrical test setups.
- Develop Python-based automation tools for test execution, data processing, equipment control, and reporting.
- Use source control and issue-tracking practices to document changes, maintain traceability, and collaborate effectively with the engineering team.
- Communicate progress, risks, assumptions, and test evidence authentically and clearly, taking accountability for assigned work and escalating concerns appropriately.
- Maintain organized code, test procedures, equipment, and documentation so work can be understood and reproduced by other engineers.
- Support a safe, collaborative, customer-centric lab environment focused on developing reliable technology and solutions for the Utilities & Energy industry.
Required Skills & Experience:
- Currently enrolled in an accredited electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or related degree program, with at least two years of college-level coursework completed.
- Hands-on experience using common hand tools and/or power tools through employment, internships, school projects, technical programs, construction, maintenance, manufacturing, automotive work, maker activities, or similar practical experience.
- Comfort performing physical, hands-on work in a new laboratory environment, including assembling equipment, working with tools, building or modifying test setups, organizing equipment, and assisting with general lab buildout activities.
- Ability to safely use or learn to use tools such as drills, drivers, crimpers, wire strippers, soldering equipment, and common measurement tools.
- Mechanical aptitude and the ability to assemble, modify, troubleshoot, or repair equipment using written instructions, drawings, or guidance from engineers.
- Ability to translate an engineering need into a practical solution, including identifying parts and materials and developing an assembly and verification approach.
- Ability to program in Python and read, troubleshoot, and modify existing code.
- Basic understanding of software development practices, including modular design, debugging, testing, and documentation.
- Awareness of electrical and physical workplace hazards and commitment to following established safety procedures when using tools or working around energized equipment.
- Ability to work collaboratively and adapt quickly as the lab environment, equipment, and project priorities evolve.
- Strong accountability and attention to detail when building, testing, documenting, or modifying equipment.
- Professional written and verbal communication skills and an authentic, collaborative approach to working with engineers and other team members.
- Available to work approximately 10 to 20 hours per week during the Fall/Winter semester, on site in a lab environment in San Jose, California.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Previous internship, research, laboratory, manufacturing, maintenance, construction, technician, or relevant engineering project experience.
- Experience performing hands-on fabrication, assembly, equipment installation, repair, maintenance, construction, or similar physical work.
- Experience fabricating or assembling custom test fixtures, electrical panels, cable harnesses, enclosures, mounting brackets, equipment racks, or laboratory equipment.
- Experience with soldering, crimping, wiring, drilling, measuring, fastening, mechanical assembly, or basic fabrication.
- Experience safely operating power tools and selecting appropriate tools for a fabrication or assembly task.
- Experience organizing, cleaning, maintaining, repairing, or calibrating laboratory or technical equipment.
- Coursework or hands-on experience with RF systems, analog and digital electronics, embedded systems, or data acquisition.
- Experience with Linux and command-line tools.
- Familiarity with Git, pull requests, code reviews, issue tracking, or CI/CD workflows.
- Ability to program in C, C++, C#, Rust, or another compiled programming language.
- Experience creating unit tests, integration tests, test fixtures, or automated validation scripts.
- Familiarity with APIs, serial communications, network troubleshooting, or instrument-control interfaces.
- Demonstrated curiosity and an innovative, agile approach to solving practical engineering problems.
- Interest in developing reliable, customer-centric technology supporting utility, energy, smart-city, or connected-device applications.
Travel: 0 – 10%
Physical Demands:
- This role requires hands-on lab work, including standing, bending, reaching, using hand and power tools, and lifting or moving laboratory equipment and materials.
San Jose, CA: $$33.17 to $41.35 per hour.
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Itron is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and providing an authentic workplace experience for all employees. If you are excited about this role but your past experiences don't perfectly align with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. In the end, you may be just who we are looking for!
The successful candidate's starting wage will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills and experience.
Itron is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require an accommodation to apply, please contact a recruiting representative at 1-800-635-5461 or email Accessibility@itron.com.
Itron is transforming how the world manages energy, water and city services. Our trusted intelligent infrastructure solutions help utilities and cities improve efficiency, build resilience and deliver safe, reliable and affordable service. With edge intelligence, we connect people, data insights and devices so communities can better manage the essential resources they rely on to live. Join us as we create a more resourceful world: www.itron.com