Internship, Engineering Automation Software Engineer, Vehicle Engineering (Fall 2026)

What To Expect
Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start around August or September 2026 and continue through the Fall term (ending approximately December 2026) or continuing into Winter/Spring 2027 if available and there is an opportunity to do so. We ask for a minimum of 12 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.

Multiple Locations Possible: Fremont, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Other locations around the San Francisco Bay Area

About the team:

Tesla’s Vehicle Engineering department is composed of thousands of the world’s best vehicle, battery, and manufacturing engineers. These engineers are responsible for the mechanical and industrial design of all major programs, for example, batteries, Optimus, Robotaxi, and all new factories. Design Technology, which is part of Vehicle Engineering, is responsible for making the tools these engineers use every bit as intelligent and dynamic as the products themselves.

As a software engineer on the Design Technology team, you will develop software applications that automate or streamline parts of the design process.

What You'll Do

Deliver web applications that are useful to diverse groups, e.g. professional design engineers and program managers

Write reusable components with clean, modular patterns

Work closely with other software engineers to integrate with backend systems and solve networking problems

Work cross functionally with mechanical and design engineers to support evolving research projects and implement new features

Maintain and improve existing applications to better support the Vehicle Engineering team

Design database and manage DB migrations. Integrate the data with frontend applications written in Next.js

What You'll Bring

Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent industry experience

Hands-on knowledge of React / Next.js / TypeScript and/or building backend systems and APIs with Python or Go desired – hands-on full stack web development experience preferred

Experience with ORMs such as Drizzle and context management libraries such as Redux is preferred

Proven experience in database management with specific proficiency in PostgreSQL, including the ability to write complex SQL statements

Familiarity with database concepts such as views and SQL functions

Proficiency with software engineering best practices including writing production quality code, agile development, API design, version control, CI/CD (docker, kubernetes, jenkins), and familiarity with major cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)

Experience building data-intensive applications

Ability to debug live software systems

Ability to demonstrate object-oriented, test-driven, and responsibility-driven design

Strong knowledge of at least one programming language related to our stack: TypeScript, Go, Java, C , C#, Python, Bash

Strong knowledge of distributed systems architecture and event streaming platforms

Strong understanding of REST and/or gRPC based APIs and microservice architecture

Strong understanding with one or more database technologies

Familiarity with code reviews in the context of a team and providing constructive feedback to others

Familiarity with diagnosing problems and incidents in multi-layered enterprise application

Familiarity with containerization and deployment configuration with Docker and Kubernetes is preferred

Familiarity with CAD tools like Catia/3DX and Solidworks is preferred

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 - $50.00/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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