Engineering Intern

Job Description

About the Role
This internship program aims to recognize and develop emerging talent by placing actively enrolled students in positions where they will grow technically, professionally, and personally. Interns will work closely with their Manager, Mentor, and team on projects critical to their team’s success, providing an experience of life at Tesla.

What You’ll Do
• Work closely with engineers and technicians on hands-on operation of advanced manufacturing machines and processes.
• Collaborate with design engineers and cross-functional teams to develop, optimize, and validate parts, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Characterize materials and fabricated parts to understand defects, mechanical properties, and performance.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and correct issues associated with processes or equipment.
• Support the design, development, specification, installation, and enhancement of tooling and manufacturing equipment.
• Conduct process development, specification, validation, and optimization of critical process parameters.
• Be given ownership of technical projects focused on team needs, potentially involving alloy development, failure analysis, material characterization, or process development.
• Suggest and implement optimal joining methods for systems in early design phases to control assembly time, cost, and process.

You’re a Good Fit If You
• Currently pursuing a degree in Materials Science or a related field.
• Actively enrolled in an academic program.
• Able to work 40 hours per week on-site.
• Possess a solid foundation in polymer chemistry and a deep understanding of the structure-performance relationships of polymers.
• Possess knowledge in one or more of the following areas: paint, coatings, adhesives, soft goods, or structural plastics (thermoplastics).
• Have a fundamental understanding of mechanical, thermal, electrical, and physical properties of materials.
• Possess a strong first principles problem solving approach.

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 in 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.).
• Proficiency in coding, particularly with Python and Matlab.
• Skills in material characterization and data processing/visualization.
• Familiar with materials testing and characterization.
• Experience working with or around hazardous materials, and a willingness to promote health and safety.
• Experience selecting fasteners, analyzing, and optimizing bolted joints.
• Experience with CATIA V5/V6 and SolidWorks.
• Proficient in 3D CAD tools and/or Simulation tools (CATIA, Solidworks, Delmia, and Witness or similar such as TC, Process Designer, Process Simulate).

Role Highlights & Compensation
• Expected to start August or September 2026.
• Continue through fall term (ending approximately December 2026 or later, if available).
• Minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) and on-site.
• Multiple Locations Possible: Austin, TX; Buffalo, NY; Fremont, CA; Lathrop, CA; Sparks, NV.
• Eligible for medical plans (options with $0 payroll deduction).
• Eligible for family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits.
• Eligible for dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans (options with $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.
• Expected Compensation: $20.00 – $50.00/hour + benefits.