Internship, Mechanical Design Engineer, Energy Engineering (Winter/Spring 2026)

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.

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 teams success.

Industrial Energy Enclosure Engineering:Ourcharter is to design robust and reliable electronics enclosures to enable the successful deployment andoperation of Teslas Utility scale storage and Supercharging products.

Thermal Design Team: The Tesla Energy thermal design brings battery,charging, and renewable technologies to the world to facilitate a renewable energy ecosystem and redefine the waywe all will use energy in the future. As part of the Thermal Design Team, you will design and package the thermalsystems that make Tesla Energy products world class. The role requires collaboration with the architecture team,adjacent design teams, manufacturing, and service, and requires the ability to apply engineering fundamentals todesign thermal assemblies that are at the core of Teslas success.

The Residential Energy Hardware Engineering Team: Our teams job is to ignore the status quo, challenge rules where appropriate, and implementfundamentals-only engineering to make the absolute best products possible to provide energy storage, EV charging,and solar integration to the home. Our mission is to get the residential electrical infrastructure ready for thetumultuous future ahead, deliver value in our products which make people happy, and fight climate change whilewere at it.

Location:Palo Alto, CA

• Full product design responsibility, from concept through production launch and ramp
• 3D design of complex parts and assemblies + FEA
• Advancing product performance while driving down cost and complexity
• Developing new technologies, supported with early process development
• Relentless improvement of existing products
• Hands-on prototyping
• Specification definition (dimensional, functional, performance, manufacturing)
• Meticulous release of 2D part and assembly drawings
• Owning basic testing and analysis; supporting advanced testing and analysis
• Root causing test failures and production problems
• Collaboration with other teams inside Tesla (manufacturing, testing, NPI, supply chain)
• Travel to support production launch and ramp (supplier visits, on-site at Tesla factories)
• Pursuing a Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Strong Engineering fundamentals in heat transfer, fluids, mechanics, and electronics
• Basic understanding of material science of components used in mechanical design (metals, insulators,n plastics, connectors, gaskets)
• Desire to own a lot and work hard - we have small teams and fast timelines
• Knowledge of GD&T, finite element analysis and design for reliability concepts
• Experience with CATIA V5 or V6
• Basic understanding of electrical design fundamentals
• Demonstrated ability or ability to learn to create products: CAD design to FEA to hand on prototyping
• A detail-oriented personality with solid documentation and reporting skills
• Experience with student Formula Vehicle, Solar Car, Hyperloop a plus
• Direct machine shop skills a plus