Internship, Mechanical Design Engineer, Residential Energy Engineering (Fall 2026)

Tesla

What To Expect

Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start August or September 2026 and continue through fall term (ending approximately December 2026 or later, if available). We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) and on-site, for most internships. Our internship program is for students who are actively enrolled in an academic program. Recent graduates seeking employment after graduation and not returning to school should apply for full-time positions, not internships.

International Students: If your work authorization is through CPT, please consult your school on your ability to work 40 hours per week before applying. You must be able to work 40 hours per week on-site. Many students will be limited to part-time during the academic year.

Internship Program at Tesla

The Internship Recruiting Team is driven by the passion to recognize and develop emerging talent. Our year-round program places the best students in positions where they will grow technically, professionally, and personally through their experience working closely with their Manager, Mentor, and team. We provide an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team’s success.

The Residential Energy Hardware Engineering team is a close-knit group of hands on mechanical and electrical engineers. We work in a space crowded with regulatory requirements and competitors and suppliers often invested in the status quo. Our team’s job is to ignore the status quo, challenge rules where appropriate, and implement fundamentals-only engineering to make the absolute best products possible to provide energy storage, EV charging, and solar integration to the home. Our mission is to get the residential electrical infrastructure ready for the tumultuous future ahead, deliver value in our products which make people happy, and fight climate change while we’re at it.

The Industrial Energy Enclosure Engineering team is a small group of hands-on mechanical engineers. Our charter is to design robust and reliable electronics enclosures to enable the successful deployment and operation of Tesla’s Utility scale storage and Supercharging products. We work in a space crowded with regulatory requirements where competitors and suppliers are often invested in the status quo. Our team’s job is to ignore the status quo, challenge rules where appropriate, and implement fundamentals only engineering to make the absolute best products possible.

Location: Palo Alto, CA

What You'll Do

Full product design responsibility, from concept through production launch and ramp

3D design of complex parts and assemblies + FEA

Advancing product performance while driving down cost and complexity

Developing new technologies, supported with early process development

Relentless improvement of existing products

Hands-on prototyping

Specification definition (dimensional, functional, performance, manufacturing)

Meticulous release of 2D part and assembly drawings

Owning basic testing and analysis; supporting advanced testing and analysis

Root causing test failures and production problems

Collaboration with other teams inside Tesla (manufacturing, testing, NPI, supply chain)

Close, active supplier relationships

Travel to support production launch and ramp (supplier visits, on-site at Tesla factories)

What You'll Bring

Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Strong Engineering fundamentals in heat transfer, fluids, mechanics, and electronics

Basic understanding of material science of components used in mechanical design (metals, insulators, plastics, connectors, gaskets)

Desire to own a lot and work hard - we have small teams and fast timelines

Demonstrated ability or ability to learn to create products: CAD design to hand on prototyping

Direct machine shop skills a plus

A detail-oriented personality with solid documentation and reporting skills

Experience with student Formula Vehicle, Solar Car, Hyperloop etc. a plus

Knowledge of GD&T, finite element analysis and design for reliability concepts

Experience with CATIA V5 or V6

Working knowledge of Matlab or Python

Basic understanding of electrical design fundamentals

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:

Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction

Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits

Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans. Both have an option with a $0 payroll contribution

Company Paid (Health Savings Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Medical Plan with HSA

Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits

Company Paid Basic Life, AD&D, and short-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)

Employee Assistance Program

Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions), and Paid Holidays

Back-up childcare and parenting support resources

Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance

Commuter benefits

Employee discounts and perks program

Expected Compensation

$20.00 - $50.00/hour + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

, Tesla

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Confirmed 27 days ago. Posted 12 days ago.

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