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

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 2027) 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 Power Electronics Controls and Modeling team is responsible for dynamics modeling, algorithm design, and controller implementation for switching power converters. The team’s responsibility spans a wide spectrum of power conversion systems required for both automotive and energy products. Tesla is seeking a power electronics controls engineer to join the team in developing high-performance controls for a wide spectrum of ac and dc products including chargers, grid-tied inverters, and resonant dc-dc converters. The engineer is expected to perform controls design through all stages starting with topology discussions, concept stage, modeling, implementation, and validation.

Location: Palo Alto, CA

What You’ll Do

• Develop control strategies and define the supporting algorithms for Tesla power electronics converters
• Develop dynamic models of power conversion systems and tune controller algorithms to optimize dynamic performance, stability, and robustness
• Translate control algorithms into software implementations and collaborate with the firmware team to integrate them into the production firmware framework
• Test, validate, and troubleshoot controller implementations on the bench and in system-level environments
• Develop and use computer simulations (MATLAB/Simulink, HIL, SIL) to evaluate new algorithms, design modifications, and corner-case operating conditions
• Support hands-on hardware bring-up and qualification of power converters, and perform lab work as needed for development and debug throughout the product lifecycle
• Support safety and compliance testing activities

What You’ll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Controls or related field
• Strong analytical skills with solid fundamentals in semiconductor devices, circuits, and control theory
• Experience with modeling and simulation of power electronics converters (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink).
• Strong hands-on testing, debugging, and troubleshooting skills in a lab environment
• Experience with embedded firmware development for real-time control systems
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment and communicate technical results clearly