Internship, Software Validation Engineer, Factory Firmware (Fall 2026)

This position is expected to start August or September 2026 and continue through fall term (ending approximately December 2026) or into Winter/Spring 2027 if available. A minimum commitment of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) on-site, is required. This internship is for students actively enrolled in an academic program; recent graduates should apply for full-time roles. International students using CPT must confirm their ability to work 40 hours per week before applying.

About the team

The Factory Firmware Team (FFT) is seeking a Software Validation Engineering Intern in Fremont, CA. This hybrid role focuses on system-level automation and validation, integrating vehicle firmware into manufacturing environments. You will oversee and expand offline vehicle testing to ensure quality control of firmware, hardware, and other changes by leveraging validation tools, analyzing data trends, collaborating with R&D engineers, and enhancing automation pipelines. The role includes executing regression testing at component, subsystem, and vehicle levels to validate changes before manufacturing deployment.

The Factory Firmware Team acts as the eyes and ears of the Firmware organization within the factory, often having the final say on new firmware deployments to manufacturing. The team provides critical feedback to accelerate the development and launch of new hardware and software features while ensuring Tesla vehicles maintain high software quality and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain automated testing frameworks and tools to validate embedded systems, including Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing.
• Create and execute automated regression test suites to ensure thorough testing of firmware on controllers, controller interfaces, and entire vehicle systems.
• Continuously analyze and improve test coverage, identifying areas for enhancement and implementing new features for comprehensive testing.
• Own the validation release process for customer releases, including test strategy, scoping, execution, and sign-off.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Development, QA, Product Management) to align testing with product requirements and support multiple variants.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with a graduation date between December 2026 – December 2027.
• Excellent proficiency in Python and a strong understanding of C/C++.
• Strong grasp of software development principles, including version control (Git) and continuous integration.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to coordinate with team members and stakeholders.
• Knowledge and experience with automation and build tools (e.g., Jenkins, Docker) is preferred.
• Previous experience in the auto industry or validating embedded systems is preferred.
• Experience with testing frameworks and tools (e.g., Pytest, Unittest) is preferred.
• Knowledge of automotive protocols and standards (e.g., CAN, LIN) is preferred.
• Experience with communication protocols (e.g., I2C, SPI) is preferred.

Benefits

• Medical, dental (including orthodontic coverage), and vision plans with $0 payroll deduction options.
• Family-building, fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits.
• Company-paid Health Savings Account (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 and vacation time (flex time for salaried positions) and paid holidays.
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources.
• Voluntary benefits, including critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance.
• Commuter benefits.
• Employee discounts and perks program.

Schedule

• Full-time (40 hours/week) on-site.
• Minimum 12-week commitment, with potential extension into Winter/Spring 2027.