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.
Industrial Energy Enclosure Engineering: 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.
Thermal Design Team: The Tesla Energy thermal design brings battery, charging, and renewable technologies to the world to facilitate a renewable energy ecosystem and redefine the way we all will use energy in the future. As part of the Thermal Design Team, you will design and package the thermal systems that make Tesla Energy products world class. The role requires collaboration with the architecture team, adjacent design teams, manufacturing, and service, and requires the ability to apply engineering fundamentals to design thermal assemblies that are at the core of Tesla’s success.
The Residential Energy Hardware Engineering Team: 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.
Service Engineering: This team is responsible for the engineering and project execution of solar and storage projects, as well as the overall health and performance of all Energy Products operating in the field. The team includes engineering expertise from project design to power systems analyses, project managers and construction estimators, data analysts and data infrastructure engineers, and product engineers with a variety of electrical and mechanical engineering backgrounds. This team sits at the center of business development, Tesla technology, and the deployment of Energy Products. As a member of our team, you will help to shape the success of our Energy business globally. You must have a genuine passion for enabling successful products and projects that will fundamentally change the world’s energy infrastructure and must want to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
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)
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
Knowledge of GD&T, finite element analysis and design for reliability concepts
Experience with CATIA V5 or V6
Basic understanding of electrical design fundamentals
Demonstrated ability or ability to learn to create products: CAD design to FEA to hand on prototyping
A detail-oriented personality with solid documentation and reporting skills
Experience with student Formula Vehicle, Solar Car, Hyperloop a plus
Direct machine shop skills a plus
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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