Intern Automation Engineer

Job Description

About the Company

Tesla’s overarching mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. The Internship Recruiting Team at Tesla is dedicated to recognizing and developing emerging talent through a year-round program that places students in positions designed for technical, professional, and personal growth. Interns work closely with their Manager, Mentor, and team, engaging in projects critical to their team’s success, thereby experiencing life at Tesla.

The specific team associated with this role, Tesla Energy, is focused on revolutionizing modern electric vehicle charging to support the company’s mission. They leverage breakthrough firmware, electronics, test, and manufacturing capabilities to develop and deploy Level 1-3 charging equipment globally. The team emphasizes collaboration and encourages a fun work environment while striving to make a significant global impact.

Job Description

This is for an Intern Automation Engineer position within the Tesla Energy team.

What To Expect:
This internship is anticipated to begin in August/September 2025 and continue through the entire Fall term (i.e., through December 2025/January 2026), with potential extension into Winter/Spring 2026 if available. A minimum commitment of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours per week), and on-site work is required.

International Students: Those with CPT work authorization must consult their school to confirm their ability to work 40 hours per week on-site, as many students may be limited to part-time during the academic year. The ability to work 40 hours per week on-site is mandatory.

Location: Palo Alto, CA

What You’ll Do:
As an Intern Automation Engineer, you will be involved in:
• Performing automation platform design for hardware and firmware integration of next-generation Tesla electric vehicle charging equipment (EVSEs).
• Creating and executing new hardware and firmware feature test plans using automation sequences, followed by detailed post-analysis.
• Developing Python code and validating embedded firmware in C and C++.
• Identifying, escalating, and resolving issues related to hardware and firmware during system bring-up, performance, and safety tests.
• Utilizing dashboards and Jenkins jobs to monitor and execute automation actions within the team’s test stations, as well as monitoring the health of these stations.
• Troubleshooting failures in automated test setups and implementing quick fixes.

What You’ll Bring:
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:
• Currently pursuing a degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Fluent in Python programming and experienced with Git version control.
• Hands-on experience with software automation, particularly involving the development of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering components, and an understanding of their interaction in complex products.
• Exceptional analytical problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and surface issues within complex hardware/software systems.
• Familiarity with the embedded microprocessor design process, including compilers and debuggers.
• Familiarity with REST API interfaces, Jenkins, and Docker operations.
• Experience working with databases using common tools such as SQL, InfluxDB, and Grafana.

Benefits:
As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including:
• Two medical plan options (Aetna PPO and HSA plans) with $0 payroll deduction.
• Family-building benefits covering fertility, adoption, and surrogacy.
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both with a $0 payroll contribution option.
• 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, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), and short-term disability insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Sick time (after 90 days of employment) and Paid Holidays.
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources.
• Voluntary benefits such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance.
• Commuter benefits.
• Employee discounts and perks program.

Expected Compensation:
The hourly compensation for this position ranges from $20.00 to $50.00 per hour, in addition to the described benefits. The final pay offered may vary based on individualized factors like market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include other elements dependent on the specific position offered.