Intern Firmware Engineering

About the role

Join Generac’s Residential Power Electronics team as a Firmware Engineering Intern in Reno, NV, and help power the future of clean energy. In this hands-on role, you’ll contribute to embedded firmware development for new products, support existing systems, and gain real lab experience testing physical hardware.

Responsibilities

• Support firmware development for embedded controllers using C and C++.
• Assist with creating and maintaining firmware modules and supporting documentation.
• Contribute to test specification development for new systems and firmware.
• Conduct and evaluate firmware and hardware testing in the lab.
• Participate in design reviews and learn from experienced firmware engineers.
• Use simulation tools and Python scripting for tooling and automation tasks.
• Support troubleshooting of designs alongside cross-functional engineering teams.
• Take ownership of a defined project that delivers tangible value to the team by the end of the internship.

What You Will Learn

• Embedded firmware development for real-world residential power electronics products.
• Hands-on lab testing methodologies for firmware and hardware integration.
• Firmware engineering integration with broader system design (engines, transfer switches, alternators, and other core engineering teams).
• Industry tools and practices for firmware build, deployment, version control, and CI/CD.
• The fundamentals of clean energy product development at Generac.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline.
• Coursework or project experience in embedded programming with C or C++.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly in writing and verbally.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on lab environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Python for scripting or automation.
• Prior project experience with physical embedded systems (academic, personal, or internship).
• Exposure to CI/CD concepts or version control tools (Git).
• Coursework or interest in residential power electronics, energy systems, or controls.
• Exposure to clean energy technology.
• Willingness to learn AI tools in a production development environment.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to perform detail-oriented work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to translate technical information to varied audiences.
• Foundational understanding of engineering principles.
• Comfortable with structured problem-solving and willing to ask questions.
• Growing knowledge of communication protocols and hardware interfaces.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls.
• The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.
• On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders.
• The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 - 50 pounds.
• Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus.