Internship, Thermal Engineer, Energy Engineering (Winter/Spring 2027)

About the role

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

Location: Palo Alto, California | Req ID: 283620 | 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.

Tesla Energy brings battery, solar, and charging technologies to the grid, establishing new industries, and defining the future of renewable energy ecosystems. This team is at the forefront of how we will generate, distribute, and consume power today and in the future. Our team is composed of individuals who are fast-moving, self-motivated, who love to solve difficult problems, and are team players.

As part of the Thermal Design Team, you will model and drive the design of the thermal systems, including air/coolant systems and refrigerant cycles, that help make Tesla Energy products world class, working with a highly motivated and interdisciplinary team that rethinks how thermal systems should be designed from the ground up.

In this role, you will start with blank page designs and build up to the top-level system performance ownership with a first principles design approach. Your expertise will be applied to everything from the high-level system layout and performance scoping to the detailed analysis of fluid, heat transfer, and thermodynamic fundamentals of heat pump cycle components and broader thermal system components.

The role is collaborative and cross-functional, requiring extensive interfacing with teams including systems engineering, parallel design teams, electrical/firmware engineering, and validation tests, to name a few. This role requires the ability to apply engineering fundamentals to design thermal systems that are at the core of Tesla’s success.

Location: Palo Alto, CA

What You'll Do

• Own in-depth modeling to drive design concepts and detailed design decisions for the next generation Tesla Energy thermal systems
• Perform thermal / fluid reduced order modeling and feasibility studies to guide mechanical designs and optimize component performance
• Collaborate with design engineers to iterate on design strategies and optimize performance/system metrics at the detailed component and subsystem level
• Advance product performance while optimizing efficiency, cost, manufacturability, and serviceability
• Develop and execute component/subsystem design validation plans and test methods to validate product adherence to requirements
• Hands-on engineering prototype builds and component fabrication
• Support creation of component/subsystem specifications and technical design documents
• Support programs through the entire life cycle including spec development, modeling, prototype builds, test, and production
• Develop and support execution of component/subsystem DFMEA and design validation plans/methods to validate product adherence to requirements
• Relentless improvement of existing products and tools

What You'll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Strong Engineering fundamentals in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics
• MATLAB and/or Python experience for building physics-based 1D models
• Experience designing, analyzing, or testing thermal components, such as single and multi-phase heat exchangers, compressors, fans, pumps, etc.
• CAD modeling experience preferred, CATIA V5/6 a plus
• FEA/CFD (ANSYS, STAR-CCM+) modeling experience preferred
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and practical design limitations
• A detail-oriented personality with solid documentation and reporting skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment
• Demonstrable motivation and ability to solve novel, difficult thermal design problems

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.