Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering Intern

Job Description

Internship, Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering (Winter/Spring 2027) | Tesla

The Tone:
This is an internship at Tesla, with multiple locations possible including Fremont, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Austin, TX; Reno, NV; Lathrop, CA; Buffalo, NY. Tesla builds vehicles and needs emerging talent to develop and engineer new processes and high-volume automation equipment for their manufacturing operations. This role is critical for building the “machine that builds the machines,” directly contributing to the company’s production goals and advancing manufacturing capabilities.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time, On-site, Minimum 12 weeks
• Location: In-person, Fremont, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Austin, TX; Reno, NV; Lathrop, CA; Buffalo, NY
• Pay: $20.00 – $50.00 hourly
• Team: Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering organization, a piece of our Vehicle Engineering function
• Mission: Develop and engineer new processes and high-volume automation equipment to build the machines that build vehicles.
• Tech Stack: CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, 3D modeling, 2D drawing, statistical tools (Process Capability (Cp, Cpk), Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility)

What You’ll Actually Do
• Engineer and develop new manufacturing processes and high-volume automation equipment for vehicle production.
• Collaborate closely with Tesla’s internal Product Design, Operations, Facilities, Production, and Quality Engineering teams.
• Coordinate cross-functional design activities with external tool vendors.
• Assume full ownership of the design and technical transfer of line tools to Tesla Operations.
• Qualify manufacturing tools for use, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and output.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field. This internship program is for students actively enrolled in an academic program.
• Experience: Must have hands-on experience, including with semi-automated or automated manufacturing equipment and in a high-volume factory environment. Experience in the design of tooling, jigs, and fixtures, as well as Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) is required.
• Skills: Demonstrates an excellent grasp of engineering fundamentals and proficiency with computer-aided design (CAD) software such as CATIA or SOLIDWORKS. Possesses strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an understanding of statistical tools like Process Capability (Cp, Cpk) and Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility, along with Geometric Design & Tolerance (GD&T).