What are the responsibilities and job description for the Internship, Safety Engineer, Vehicle Engineering (Fall 2026) position at Tesla Motors, Inc.?
Consider before submitting an application:
This position is expected to start around August or September 2026 and continue through the Fall term (endingapproximately December 2026) or continuing into Winter/Spring 2027 if available and there is an opportunity to do so. We ask for a minimum of12 weeks, full-time and on-site, for most internships. Our internship program is for students who are actively enrolled in an academic program. Recent graduates seeking employment after graduation and not returning to school should apply for full-time positions, not internships.
International Students: If your work authorization is through CPT, please consult your school on your ability to work 40 hours per week before applying. You must be able to work 40 hours per week on-site. Many students will be limited to part-time during the academic year.
Internship Program at Tesla
The Internship Recruiting Team is driven by the passion to recognize and develop emerging talent. Our year-round program places the best students in positions where they will grow technically, professionally, and personally through their experience working closely with their Manager, Mentor, and team. We provide an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team's success.
What You'll Do
Your application will be considered across all opportunities for the teams listed below:
Safety Team: Innovation at the Wheel Internship:
Tesla's Safety Team is a dynamic group dedicated to redefining safety in electric vehicles and workplaces. They integrate cutting-edge technology, like AI-driven Autopilot features and real-time data analytics from Tesla's global fleet, to enhance collision avoidance, structural integrity, and crashworthiness. The team collaborates across engineering, software, and design to set new industry benchmarks, earning top NHTSA and Euro NCAP ratings. Their work extends to manufacturing safety, ensuring Tesla's Gigafactories adhere to rigorous standards, and cybersecurity, protecting vehicles from emerging threats
Joining Tesla's Safety Team means tackling high-impact challenges at the intersection of innovation and mission-driven purpose. The culture fosters collaboration with industry-leading experts, offering opportunities to shape the future of transportation while working on visible, real-world solutions. At Tesla, safety isn't just a goal-it's a legacy in the making, powered by passion and cutting-edge tech
Occupant Safety and Restraints Internship:
As a Mechanical Engineering Intern on the Occupant Safety and Restraints team, you will be responsible for the design, release, and launch of seat belt system components for current and future vehicle platforms. You will work under the mentorship of an experienced design engineer and report to the Engineering Manager of Occupant Safety and Seat Belt Restraints. The team is small and specialized, and the ideal candidate is driven with a passion to learn, takes on challenges independently, and has strong ethical decision making who will make decision that put the customer first, helping produce the safest vehicles in the world
This role offers an opportunity to be involved in the full design cycle of high-volume seat belt components including conceptualization, detailed CAD design, testing, manufacturing, and implementation. In this role you will work collaboratively alongside different vehicle design teams including interiors, body, firmware, manufacturing etc. to integrate your components into the final product. The role tasks change based on the needs of the team but will be heavily focused on mechanical design and CAD work with additional support required for testing, R&D projects, hands-on prototyping projects, and electro-mechanical system integration tasks
Safety and Restraints Internship:
This position will work as a member of the Safety and Restraints team with the primary objective of supporting the design and implementation of passive safety systems in new vehicles. The successful candidate for this position must have a strong engineering fundamentals background, preferably with a strength in passive safety, data acquisition and/or data analysis
What You'll Bring
Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or a related field
Experience in 3Dx or Catia V5, Python, LS-DYNA
Experience with data acquisition equipment, accelerometers, pressure transducers, system design, and biomechanics
Prior CAD part and assembly design experience through work or personal projects
Previous experience in safety
Experience in basic coding using Arduino etc., motor control projects are of specific interest
Experience with data acquisition equipment, accelerometers, pressure transducers, system design, and biomechanics
Prior internship or work experience with product design and/or automotive engineering
Fundamental knowledge of manufacturing technologies and material selection
Working knowledge of Design for Manufacturing, including familiarity with GD&T and dimensional engineering
Previous hands-on experience with tools and machine shop equipment
Previous electronics and electro-mechanical design including wiring, soldering, etc.
Graphing experience using programs such as Hyperworks/Hypergraph
Strong mechanical aptitude, ability to work with other teams to balance competing constraints/requirements, is passionate about system level design and passive safety
Compensation and Benefits
As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:
- Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
- Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
- Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans. Both have an option with a $0 payroll contribution
- 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, AD&D, and short-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions), and Paid Holidays
- Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
- Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
- Commuter benefits
- Employee discounts and perks program
Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Salary : $20 - $50