AI Hardware Design Engineering – Silicon Development Internship

Job Description

Internship, AI Hardware Design Engineer, AI Hardware (Fall 2026) | Tesla

The Tone:
This is an internship at Tesla, located in Palo Alto, CA or Austin, TX. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles, battery energy storage, solar panels, and related products, with a significant focus on cutting-edge AI technologies for Autopilot. This role is critical for contributing to the core AI hardware that drives the autonomous capabilities of Tesla’s vehicles, providing foundational experience in silicon development and validation. You will work closely with your Manager, Mentor, and team on projects vital to their success.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time (40 hours/week)
• Location: In-person, Palo Alto, CA; Austin, TX
• Pay: $20–$55 hourly
• Team: Autopilot Physical Design, Signal Integrity and Power Integrity (SIPI), Autopilot Silicon and Systems Validation, Autopilot Silicon and System Design teams
• Mission: Design, implement, validate, and optimize the AI hardware and systems foundational to Tesla’s Autopilot technology.
• Tech Stack: TCL, Perl, Python, C, C++, Linux OS Scripting, EDA tools

What You’ll Actually Do
• Implement: Contribute to block-level silicon implementation using industry-standard EDA tools, from synthesis through tapeout.
• Analyze: Work on high-speed serial interface signal integrity, memory SI/PI, and system level power supply design and validation for automotive electronic systems.
• Validate: Participate in validating pre and post-silicon phases of Autopilot hardware and system components, including SoC, PCBA, and Firmware.
• Design: Assist in architecting, designing, and productizing silicon chips, ASICs, and the overall system for Tesla Autopilot.
• Develop: Enhance result quality and streamline workflows by developing designs and scripts in TCL, Perl, and/or Python.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Career level: Student.
• Experience: Experience in design, verification or validation disciplines; system/platform level debug and root cause isolation, methodology and tools; and familiarity with Embedded board bring-up.
• Skills: Strong comfort in C, C++, Python, and/or Linux OS Scripting; knowledge of PCB manufacturing technologies and DFM; understanding of system level aspects of low power and high-power design; understanding fundamentals of real-time operating system (RTOS) principles.
• Bonus: Experience in mixed signal design, high speed signaling, or power supply design.