Software Engineer – Industrial Firmware

Job Description

Internship, Software Engineer Industrial Firmware, Energy Engineering (Fall 2026) | Tesla

The Tone:
This is an internship at Tesla, located in Palo Alto, CA. Tesla Energy is dedicated to integrating battery, solar, and charging technologies into the grid, establishing new industries and defining the future of renewable energy ecosystems. This role is crucial for developing the industrial firmware that powers the next generation of energy products, ensuring high-quality software for manufacturing, commissioning, and service operations.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Palo Alto, CA
• Pay: $20–$50 hourly
• Team: Industrial firmware team
• Mission: Deliver high-quality software and firmware to bring the next generation of industrial energy products to market, supporting manufacturing, commissioning, and service.
• Tech Stack: Python, C, C++, Rust, JSON, Protobuf, REST, HTTP/S, Ethernet, CAN

What You’ll Actually Do
• Development: Develop, enhance, and debug new and existing software and firmware utilizing Python, C, C++, and Rust programming languages.
• Integration: Perform hardware and firmware integration for both current and next generation Tesla Energy products, ensuring seamless functionality.
• Testing: Design robust and exhaustive test procedures specifically for high voltage power electronics, battery modules, and thermal systems.
• Architecture: Contribute to software architecture design, the development of software applications, and their integration into manufacturing processes and production lines.
• Debugging: Engage hands-on with hardware bring-up, debug identified issues, and devise effective solution paths for complex problems.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science or an engineering-related field. This position is for students actively enrolled in an academic program.
• Experience: Possess hands-on experience with electrical and software engineering components, along with a strong understanding of how these elements interact within a complex product system.
• Skills: Capable of delivering high-quality Python software solutions; exhibit exceptional analytical problem-solving skills to identify and surface issues within complex hardware/software systems; demonstrate excellent communication skills, including the ability to ask questions and be available to team members, coupled with excellent attention to detail.
• Bonus: Exhibit an interest in manufacturing analytics and metrics, such as first-pass yield, cycle time, test coverage, and failure modes; possess familiarity with basic electrical concepts as well as data communication protocols like JSON, Protobuf, REST, HTTP/S, Ethernet, and CAN; bring a firmware validation mindset to the team, with experience in Continuous Integration workflows including unit testing, software-in-the-loop, and hardware-in-the-loop, alongside participation in firmware testing.