Internship, Engineering Automation Software Engineer, Vehicle Engineering (Winter/Spring 2027)

This position is expected to start January 2027 and continue through the Spring term (ending approximately May 2027) or into Summer 2027 if available. A minimum of 12 weeks, full-time and on-site, is required. Our internship program is for students actively enrolled in an academic program. Recent graduates should apply for full-time positions. International students using CPT must consult their school about working 40 hours per week on-site.

About the team

Tesla’s Vehicle Engineering department comprises thousands of engineers responsible for the mechanical and industrial design of major programs, including batteries, Optimus, Robotaxi, and new factories. The Design Technology team, part of Vehicle Engineering, develops intelligent tools to streamline the design process. As a software engineer on this team, you will build applications that automate and enhance design workflows.

Responsibilities

• Deliver web applications for diverse groups, such as design engineers and program managers
• Write reusable, modular components
• Collaborate with other software engineers to integrate backend systems and solve networking challenges
• Work cross-functionally with mechanical and design engineers to support research projects and implement new features
• Maintain and improve existing applications for the Vehicle Engineering team
• Design databases and manage migrations
• Integrate data with frontend applications built in Next.js

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent industry experience
• Hands-on knowledge of React, Next.js, TypeScript, and/or backend systems with Python or Go (full-stack experience preferred)
• Experience with ORMs like Drizzle and context management libraries like Redux
• Proven experience in database management, particularly PostgreSQL, including writing complex SQL statements and understanding views/SQL functions
• Proficiency in software engineering best practices: production-quality code, agile development, API design, version control, CI/CD (Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins), and familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
• Experience building data-intensive applications
• Ability to debug live software systems
• Strong knowledge of object-oriented, test-driven, and responsibility-driven design
• Expertise in at least one language from Tesla’s stack: TypeScript, Go, Java, C++, C#, Python, or Bash
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, event streaming platforms, REST/gRPC APIs, and microservice architecture
• Familiarity with code reviews, diagnosing multi-layered enterprise application issues, and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Familiarity with CAD tools like Catia/3DX and SolidWorks is a plus

Benefits

• Medical, dental (including orthodontic coverage), and vision plans with $0 payroll deduction options
• Family-building, fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits
• Company-paid HSA contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Medical Plan
• 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 time, vacation (flex time for salaried roles), and paid holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft/legal services, and pet insurance
• Commuter benefits and employee discounts

Pay

Expected compensation: $20.00 - $50.00/hour + benefits. Pay varies based on market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Schedule

• Full-time (40 hours per week on-site)
• Minimum 12-week commitment
• Start: January 2027 (Spring term or Summer 2027 if available)