Internship, System Controls Engineer, Energy Engineering (Winter/Spring 2027)

About the role

Internship, System Controls Engineer, Energy Engineering (Winter/Spring 2027) | Tesla (Energy Engineering)

Location: Palo Alto, California | Req ID: 283816 | Job Type: Intern/Apprentice

What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application

This position is expected to start January 2027 and continue through the entire Winter/Spring term (i.e through April/May 2026) or into Summer 2027 if available. We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) and on-site, for most internships.

International Students: If your work authorization is through CPT, please consult your school before applying. You must be able to work 40 hours per week. 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.

The Tesla Energy Products team is bringing battery and solar technology to the grid to facilitate a renewable energy ecosystem and redefine the way the world will use energy in the future. As a System Controls intern in the Controls team, you will support modelling, development, and implementation of innovative and cutting-edge estimation and control algorithms in our residential and industrial battery systems.

Location: Palo Alto, CA

What You'll Do

• Support research and development of advanced optimal control algorithms for industrial and residential battery energy storage products
• Help create and integrate models, define algorithms, write testing code, and evaluate the performance of algorithms throughout the life of the product
• Present your findings to the broader engineering teams

What You'll Bring

• Currently pursuing a graduate degree in an engineering discipline, math, physics or a related field
• Research experience in optimal control methods including but not limited to: MPC, LQR, trajectory optimization, learning based control
• Familiar with linear systems analysis, state estimation, and parameter identification methods
• Experience with Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink
• Ability to communicate efficiently and collaborate cross-functionally
• Experience in gradient-based optimization methods is a plus
• Experience in differentiable programming is a plus
• Good fundamentals of thermodynamics and heat transfer is a plus
• Familiar with electrothermal modeling of lithium-ion battery cells is a plus
• Familiar with uncertainty quantification methods is a plus

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
• Earned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)

Expected Compensation$20.00 - $50.00 + benefitsPay 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.