Internship, CAE Mechanical Design Engineer, Optimus (Summer 2026)

What To Expect
This position is expected to start May 2026 and continue through summer term (ending approximately August 2026 or later, if available). We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) 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.

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 are dedicated to providing an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team’s success.

About the Team:

As a CAE Engineering intern, you will guide the design of sensors and structural components using high-fidelity FE models grounded in sound engineering principles Working closely with mechanical, electrical, controls, software, and manufacturing teams, you’ll analyze and optimize designs, challenge traditional CAE methods, and pioneer more efficient, accurate approaches. This role places you at the forefront of critical design and engineering decisions, shaping a robust and reliable humanoid robot that has never been executed before.

What You'll Do

Develop and analyze comprehensive Finite Element (FE) models for Optimus, from individual components to the full system

Conduct static, dynamic, structural and MBD simulations to evaluate and validate the performance against key requirements for strength, stiffness, durability and sensing

Build and refine simulation workflows to assess performance across diverse operating scenarios, automate processes, documentation, and tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and repeatability

Provide design guidance to world-class engineering teams, enabling data-driven product decisions

Collaborate with Test Engineering to design and validate experiments, correlate test data with simulations, and enhance predictive modeling capabilities

Establish and maintain modeling standards, methods, and best practices for current and future programs

Material characterization and advanced modeling of structural and sensing components

Plan and execute large-scale DOEs, creating ML driven surrogate models to extract insights to drive key design decisions

What You'll Bring

Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics or a related field

Strong engineering fundamentals and ability to perform first-principles analysis to ensure a successful design (stress-strain, thermal, tolerance, cost and mass optimization, etc.)

Demonstrated ability to guide structural, sensing, thermal, and mechanism designs through CAE, from concept to mass production, across robotics, automotive, and consumer electronics

Proficiency in CAE Tools such as BETA CAE, LS-DYNA, Abaqus, ADAMS, COMSOL, OPTISTRUCT, Design Life, FE Safe

Exposure in building high-fidelity FE models at component, sub-system, and full-system levels

Proficiency in linear and non-linear static, dynamic and modal simulations and experience developing multi-physics simulation workflows (e.g., thermal-mechanical, mechanical-electrical)

Advanced knowledge in material characterization and modeling, including nonlinear elasticity, viscoelasticity, creep, and strain-rate dependent plasticity in Metals, Plastics, Polymers and Adhesives

Strong programming and data analysis skills in MATLAB, Python, or equivalent

Benefits
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

Expected Compensation

$20.00 - $55.00/hour benefits

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.

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