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Internship, Software QA Engineer, Vehicle Software (Winter/Spring 2026)

Tesla
Palo Alto, CA Intern
POSTED ON 12/30/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 1/29/2026
What To Expect
Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start around January 2026 and continue through the Winter/Spring term (ending approximately May 2026) or continuing into Summer 2026 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 Programs at Tesla

The Internship Recruiting Team is driven by the passion to recognize emerging talent. Our year-round program places the best students in positions that they will grow both technically and personally through their experience working closely with their Manager, Mentor, and team. We are dedicated to providing an experience that allows for the intern to experience life at Tesla by giving them ownership over projects that are critical to their team’s success.

About The Team
Tesla’s SQA Engineers are Software Engineers who are natural problem solvers and have a passion for innovation and quality. Interns on this team will work with multiple engineering teams across the company while still maintaining autonomy in independent projects. Our SQA teams lie at the intersection of development and launch, playing a critical role in the design, development, and support of Tesla products.

As an intern with the Infotainment Software QA team, you will help to ensure great quality of Tesla’s UI and/or Autopilot software for current and next generation vehicle programs. Interns on this team will work with Systems Software QA, Automation Framework, UX General Testing, Mobile Apps Testing or General QA Automation. The ideal candidate combines excellent software testing skills with strong automation scripting knowledge, as well as a passion for electric vehicles.

What You'll Do

  • Develop detailed test plans to validate Tesla’s User Interface software and enhance vehicle testing strategies
  • Design and implement test scripts to automate User Interface workflows
  • Build frameworks to optimize automation pipelines and integrate results into daily/weekly reporting
  • Validate vehicle functionality and ensure seamless integration of software updates
  • Investigate field-reported issues, collaborate with internal Software QA Engineers, and perform root-cause analysis
  • Execute functional and regression testing for release validation and triage results


  • What You'll Bring

  • Currently pursuing a Degree in Computer Science or a related field with a gradation date between 2026 - 2027
  • Experience in software testing, automation scripting (Python, C , or similar), and test framework design
  • Familiarity with Agile methodologies and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD)
  • Passion for problem-solving, electric vehicles, and delivering exceptional user experiences


  • Benefits
    Compensation and Benefits
    As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:
  • Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical 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
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Sick time after 90 days of employment 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

    $40.00 - $56.00/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.

    , Tesla

    Salary : $40 - $56

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