The Intern Experience: Learning and Growing at MB.io

At Mercedes-Benz.io, we are committed to nurturing the talent of tomorrow. One of the ways we achieve this is through our annual summer internship programme, where we welcome bright, talented individuals eager to embark on a journey of growth and learning. This presents an opportunity to dive into the core of our work, collaborating with teams daily to develop technological solutions for marketing, sales and customer services for Mercedes-Benz Cars, reaching users in over 60 countries worldwide. Talk about shaping the future of automotive technology!

This year was no different, as we were thrilled to have a group of eight people join us over the summer. Each of them brought fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, enriching our teams and projects. We had the chance to speak with four of them about their hands-on experience, and they had a lot to share. Keep scrolling to learn their stories.

Meet Our Interns

Paulo Bolinhas is currently pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. He was drawn to the tech field for its flexibility and growth opportunities. This internship marks his first experience in the industry, and he hopes to continue developing his skills and gaining valuable experience.

Soraia Batista, also at Instituto Superior Técnico, is currently working towards her Master’s in Computer Science and Telecommunications Engineering. She was motivated by the opportunity to combine telecommunications with computer science, particularly in areas such as distributed systems, cloud applications, and cybersecurity. This internship represents her first professional experience, and her immediate goal is to complete her Master’s degree. Following that, she aims to pursue a full-time position where she can apply her skills, especially in cloud-related roles.

Pedro Pereira is currently completing his degree in Telecommunications and Informatics at Instituto Superior Técnico. Having developed a passion for technology from an early age, he decided to pursue a career in computer science. As this is also his first internship, he hopes to continue working in this field, ideally at MB.io, while continually learning and improving.

Tereza Ribeiro holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico and recently completed a programming course at 42 School. Having shifted her focus from project management to programming, she is eager to explore the tech world in greater depth. Although she previously worked as a project manager in renewable energy for a year, she had no prior experience in technology before joining MB.io.

Why MB.io?

When questioned about what initially sparked their interest in our internship programme, Paulo had no doubts: the option for remote work and the company’s strong reputation. Excited to work on cloud-based projects, Soraia was sold after seeing the team’s enthusiasm during her interview. Pedro was drawn to MB.io’s company culture, which he had seen highlighted on social media. Meanwhile, Tereza viewed the internship as an opportunity to bridge her academic knowledge with practical experience and contribute to an exciting project.

MB.io has a collaborative and innovative culture that challenged me to share ideas and propose solutions, making my internship feel personalised and unique.

— Tereza Ribeiro

The Power of Collaboration

We strive to ensure that new members of the tribe feel welcomed and supported from day one. Paulo described his onboarding as smooth, praising his team for being both knowledgeable and supportive. Soraia echoed this sentiment, noting how her fellow MB.ioneers were always welcoming and quick to offer assistance. Pedro expressed how safe he felt to ask questions and learn, crediting his team for helping him grow. For Tereza, the team was approachable and ready to assist her as she navigated the new environment, making her feel at ease.

All of them agree that having onboarding buddies also made a big difference! By this, we mean designated members of the tribe who help new joiners acclimate to the company during their initial period, offering guidance in navigating its culture and resources. In essence, the primary role of an onboarding buddy is to provide support throughout the onboarding process.

Our summer interns mentioned that this not only made the experience more enjoyable but also helped them understand team dynamics and project structures. Their buddies provided essential feedback and kept track of their progress throughout their internships.

Collaborating with experienced colleagues was invaluable. Their expertise, technical insights, and collaborative problem-solving approach greatly aided my growth.

— Soraia Batista

Diving into Real Projects

Throughout their internships, each intern was assigned a specialised role tailored to their skills and interests. Here’s a look at their key responsibilities and the projects they worked on:

Backend Development

Interns in this team worked with different technologies. For Paulo, one of his primary tasks was developing a GraphQL Proof of Concept, which involved migrating to new technologies and enhancing the team’s product capabilities. Pedro focused on Kotlin with Spring, working closely with the front-end team to ensure smooth API integration. Both admit they faced challenges — Paulo had to quickly grasp the existing code architecture, while Pedro adapted to the independent nature of work, which differed from the university environment. Despite this, they gained valuable insights and growth from the experience.

I learned the importance of effective communication and collaboration within a team, and embracing a growth mindset allowed me to tackle challenges with confidence.

— Pedro Pereira

CloudOps

In the CloudOps team, Soraia took on the challenge of developing the Nebula Billing Information Scraper, a system for tracking AWS costs. She worked with AWS Cost Explorer, PostgreSQL, and Python, building tools that optimised cost management for Nebula’s clients. She also created a CLI tool and a small web app to improve usability. This experience gave her deep insights into cloud infrastructure and cost management systems. While initially struggling with the complexity of the product, she quickly gained confidence with the support of her team.

Realising that supportive company cultures exist was a significant lesson for me. The collaborative environment allowed effective work without constant pressure

— Soraia Batista

Quality Assurance (QA)

In the QA team, Tereza worked on manual and automated testing, using tools such as Java-Selenium, Postman, and Zephyr. She focused on testing UI components and API services to ensure product quality. One of her key contributions was enhancing the testing processes and tracking test statuses. While learning new tools and methodologies, she encountered a steep learning curve in both development and testing, which only motivated her to work harder and ask more questions. Her proactive approach ensured the success of her tasks.

Working with exceptional professionals gave me insights into effective methodologies and a drive for excellence, enriching my understanding of teamwork.

— Tereza Ribeiro

A Journey to Remember

Our summer internship programme isn’t just about acquiring technical skills — it’s about personal growth, exploring professional journeys, and making meaningful contributions. Each of our interns walked away with newfound knowledge, greater confidence, and a clearer sense of their professional goals. And we're proud to have played a part in that journey!

As two of them move forward from interns to full-time team members, here are their reflections on this transition:

“It's been super positive and smooth. I really want to contribute to my team; the search product we’re working on is exciting and challenging,” Paulo said. “Transitioning to a full-time role has been exciting as well, as I now have the chance to take on more responsibility. I’m eager to keep learning and contributing to innovative solutions,” Pedro added.

We wish all our summer interns the best as they take the next steps in their careers, and we look forward to seeing where their paths lead them — whether here at MB.io or beyond!