Cost Reduction Intern, Charging

Job Description

About the Role
This intern position is with the Tesla Charging team’s Cost Reduction team, aimed at accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. The intern will work across the organization to identify and execute initiatives that minimize the cost of deploying and operating Tesla’s global Supercharger network, a critical infrastructure asset in the clean energy transition. The year-round program provides an experience for students to grow technically and personally, working closely with a Manager, Mentor, and team on projects critical to their success.

What You’ll Do
• Run rate optimization analyses across thousands of Supercharger sites; identifying savings opportunities, benchmarking tariff structures, and translating findings into a scalable global strategy.
• Help maximize revenue from government-sponsored fuel credit programs by identifying eligible sites, tracking enrollment status, and quantifying financial impact.
• Support analysis of solar and battery storage projects at Supercharger sites; modeling potential bill savings, demand charge reduction, and payback periods to prioritize deployment.
• Build and maintain dashboards and automated reporting tools to monitor energy costs, credit program performance, and savings against targets.
• Research, identify, and track governmental grant and incentive programs relevant to EV charging infrastructure, including NEVI (National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure), IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) tax credits, and state-level RFP programs.
• Assist in preparing competitive grant applications and RFP responses, coordinating inputs across Engineering, Finance, Policy, and Construction teams.
• Develop financial models to quantify the net cost impact of incentive programs on Supercharger site builds and prioritize applications by expected value.
• Maintain an internal knowledge base of program requirements, deadlines, and application outcomes to improve future submission quality and speed.
• Partner with Finance, Policy, Deployment, and Site Operations teams to gather data, align priorities, and drive initiatives forward.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders in a clear, data-driven manner.
• Identify process improvements and automation opportunities to scale the team’s analytical capabilities.

You’re a Good Fit If You
• Are currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Energy Systems, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Business Analytics, or a related field.
• Have strong analytical and quantitative skills; comfort working with large datasets to extract actionable insights.
• Have proficiency in Excel for financial modeling; experience with Python and SQL for data analysis and automation.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to distill complex analysis into clear recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Are detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

Bonus Qualifications
• Have an interest in energy, clean technology, EV infrastructure, or sustainability.
• Have prior experience or coursework in utility rate analysis, energy economics, project finance, or government grants/policy.

Role Highlights & Compensation
• Expected to start August 2026 and continue through the entire Fall term (through December) or into early Spring 2027, if available.
• Requires a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time, with a requirement to work 40 hours per week for external applicants.
• International Students on CPT must consult their school on the ability to work 40 hours per week before applying.
• Places students in positions for technical and personal growth through experience working closely with a Manager, Mentor, and team.
• Provides an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by giving projects critical to their team’s success.
• Expected compensation: $25.00 – $40.00/hour + benefits.
• Eligible for Medical plans with $0 payroll deduction options.
• Eligible for Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits.
• Eligible for Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both with an option for $0 payroll contribution.
• Eligible for Company Paid (Health Savings Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Medical Plan with HSA.
• Eligible for Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Eligible for 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits.
• Eligible for Company Paid Basic Life, AD&D, and short-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period).
• Eligible for Employee Assistance Program.
• Eligible for Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions), and Paid Holidays.
• Eligible for Back-up childcare and parenting support resources.
• Eligible for Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance.
• Eligible for Commuter benefits.
• Eligible for Employee discounts and perks program.