IoT Platform Software Engineer Intern

About Tempo

Based in San Diego, California, Tempo develops thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems designed for energy-intensive industries. The platform enables industrial operators to shift energy use over time by sourcing power when it is most cost-effective and enables the electrification of high-temperature industrial heat at a cost advantage to using fossil fuels. By storing electricity thermochemically, the system delivers a continuous stream of combustion‑free, high‑temperature air at up to 1,200°C.

Tempo is backed by leading climate and energy investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Prelude Ventures.

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We are seeking a highly motivated Platform Software Engineering Intern to join our team and contribute to the development of our next‑generation IoT infrastructure. The overarching goal of this internship is to help create a full‑stack development model for an edge device, spanning the bringup of custom hardware and the establishment of secure, resilient cloud connectivity for command, control, and telemetry data.

As an intern, your primary mission will be to ensure the reliability and robustness of this new architecture, building rigorous verification and test cases with a heavy emphasis on negative testing and edge‑case validation, and using simulation, Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL), and Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) regression frameworks to prove out the system’s operational integrity.

• Test Engineering & Verification:
  Design, construct, and execute verification and test cases to ensure the appropriate operation of the edge device and its cloud integrations
• Negative Testing Focus:
  Actively break the system by developing test suites focused on negative testing, fault injection, and error handling to ensure system resilience
• Coverage Analysis:
  Conduct thorough coverage analysis to track and guarantee functional completion of the project requirements
• Framework Integration:
  Implement and automate tests using simulation, Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL), or Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) regression frameworks, scoping the work appropriately to the internship’s time constraints
• Full‑Stack
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work alongside senior engineers on a full‑stack edge development model, gaining exposure to hardware bringup and cloud telemetry pipelines

During this internship, you will work hands‑on with a modern IoT stack, gaining exposure to and utilizing the following technologies:

• Embedded Systems:
  Embedded Linux controller bringup and custom distribution build environments (e.g., Yocto, Buildroot)
• Containerization:
  Edge workload deployment and development using Balena and Docker containers
• Languages:
  
  Polyglot development environment utilizing Rust, C, Python, and Go
• IoT Networking:
  Network programming for resource‑constrained environments using Pub/Sub architectures, specifically MQTT, CoAP, and HTTP
• Security Implementations:
  Verification of verified boot, signed firmware images, and mutual authentication for TLS

• Currently pursuing a BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
• Proficiency in at least one of our core programming languages (C, Python, Rust, or Go) and a willingness to learn the others
• Solid foundational understanding of software testing methodologies, particularly automated testing and regression frameworks
• Basic familiarity with Linux operating system administration and command‑line interfaces
• Strong analytical problem‑solving skills and a methodical approach to uncovering system vulnerabilities

• Prior academic or personal project experience with embedded systems, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or similar microcontrollers/edge devices
• Introductory knowledge of containerization (Docker) and networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, HTTP)
• Familiarity with IoT protocols like MQTT or CoAP
• Experience with hardware/software integration or SIL/HIL testing environments

• Sitting and standing: Extended periods at a desk performing computer‑based design, simulation, and documentation work, balanced…