Internship, Systems Integration Engineer, Body Controls (Winter/Spring 2027)

About the role

Internship, Systems Integration Engineer, Body Controls (Winter/Spring 2027) | Tesla (Vehicle Software)

Location: PALO ALTO, California | Req ID: 283990 | Job Type: Intern/Apprentice

What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application

This position is expected to start around January 2027 and continue through the entire Spring term (ending approximately May 2027 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.

What You'll Do

• Support system integration tasks from concept to production
• Define system requirements, vehicle behaviors, and performance specifications that are measurable, testable, and manufacturable
• Contribute to architectural decisions for body controls systems, evaluating communication protocols, control strategies, and hardware-software partitioning
• Collaborate with electrical and mechanical hardware teams to define interfaces, instrumentation points, and validation strategies early in the design cycle
• Aid in calibration and tuning of electromechanical systems to meet performance and user experience goals
• Support firmware and validation teams in ensuring testability is integrated into designs
• Manage stakeholder alignment across firmware, hardware, reliability, homologation, service, manufacturing, and product security teams

What You'll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field of study with a graduation date between May 2027 – May 2028
• Strong foundation in both hardware and software fundamentals with ability to bridge electrical schematics and firmware architecture
• Experience with embedded communication protocols
• Understanding of motor control, sensing systems, and electromechanical system behavior
• Ability to read electrical schematics and use lab equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, multimeters) for bring-up and troubleshooting
• Familiarity with Embedded C to review firmware and collaborate effectively with developers on implementation details
• Experience defining requirements from high-level vehicle behaviors and making them measurable and testable
• Ability to design simple automation tools, test scripts, or parsers to improve bring-up and validation efficiency
• Bias toward incremental progress, systematic problem-solving, and explicit risk-based decision making
• Experience with safety-critical systems, functional safety concepts, or automotive validation processes, preferred

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$42.07 - $58.89 + 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.