Engineering Intern

Job Description

About the Role
This internship program is designed for students actively enrolled in an academic program, aiming to recognize and develop emerging talent. It places interns in positions where they will grow technically, professionally, and personally by working closely with a Manager, Mentor, and team on projects critical to the team’s success, allowing them to experience life at Tesla.

What You’ll Do
• Work with engineers and technicians in support of hands-on operation of Additive Manufacturing (AM) machines and post-processing.
• Collaborate with tool design engineers to develop and optimize parts to leverage additive manufacturing technology.
• Characterize fabricated parts to understand defects and mechanical properties such as Charpy, Tensile test, and metallography.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and correct issues associated with process or equipment.
• Design and develop technically complex processes for finishing/coating products, including process development, specification, and validation.
• Establish and optimize critical process parameters, design for manufacturing, equipment specification and design, as well as installation and commissioning.
• Work closely with internal cross-functional teams, external vendors, and technology partners on process development from concept to production.
• Work on alloy development, failure analysis, material characterization, and process development.
• Take on the role of a Materials Test Engineer and be given ownership of a technical project focused on growing needs within the team.
• Perform materials level testing, including standardized validation testing and investigative material characterization for manufacturing troubleshooting.
• Create new tests and characterization capabilities to develop custom materials faster.
• Suggest and implement the best joining methods for systems in the early phases of design to control assembly time, cost, and process.
• Design, manufacture, install, launch, and enhance high-pressure die casting dies (tooling).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements for new die designs.
• Specify, engineer, and design the mechanical aspects (Solid Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer) related to high-pressure die casting.

You’re a Good Fit If You
• Are currently pursuing a degree in Materials Science or a related field.
• Are actively enrolled in an academic program.
• Are able to work 40 hours per week on-site.
• Are proficient in 3D CAD tools and/or Simulation tools.
• Have a strong fundamental understanding of mechanical, thermal, electrical, and physical properties of materials.

Bonus Qualifications
• Experience in Catia, NX, Magics, 3DXperts, NTop.
• Experience in developing, executing, and interpreting results of Design of Experiments (DOE).
• Familiar with Catia, SolidWorks, Inventor, and/or AutoCAD.
• Interested working with or developing functional/aesthetic finishing processes, including but not limited to: Automotive Paint and Powder Coating, Thin Film Coating (eg. PVD, CVD, PECVD), Thermal Spray Coating, Dip Coating and Surface Finishing  (eg. Sanding/Graining, Laser Texturing, etc.).
• Possess knowledge in one or more of the following areas: paint, coatings, adhesives, soft goods, or structural plastics (thermoplastics).
• Proficiency in coding, particularly with Python and Matlab.
• Skills in material characterization and data processing/visualization.
• Familiarity with materials testing and characterization.
• Experience working with or around hazardous materials.
• A willingness to promote health and safety.
• Experience selecting fasteners, analyzing, and optimizing bolted joints.
• Experience with CATIA V5/V6 and SolidWorks.
• Experience with Delmia, Witness, TC, Process Designer, Process Simulate.

Role Highlights & Compensation
• Expected compensation: $20.00 – $50.00/hour + benefits.
• 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.
• Position expected to start August or September 2026 and continue through fall term (ending approximately December 2026 or later, if available).
• Minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) and on-site, for most internships.
• Multiple Locations Possible: Austin, TX; Buffalo, NY; Fremont, CA; Lathrop, CA; Sparks, NV.