Internship, Automation Development & Tooling Engineer (Winter/Spring 2027)

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.

Internship Program at Tesla:

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 provide an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team’s success.

Multiple Locations Possible: Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; Elgin, Illinois; Grand Rapids, Michigan

About Automation Development & Tooling Engineering at Tesla

Tesla is seeking highly motivated post-secondary interns to contribute to the design and development of new automation equipment and assembly lines for our advanced production facilities. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the team building "the machine that makes the machine." Tesla is a demanding and fast-paced environment where you will work on a critical subsystem of incredibly exciting products.

What You’ll Do

Your application will be considered across all opportunities for the teams listed below:

• Automation Mechanical Design Engineering: developing and designing new manufacturing equipment

• Automation Controls Engineering: developing, designing, and programming control systems for new equipment

• Die Engineering: executing project tasks relating to stamping die design and development

What You’ll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or a related field

• Knowledge of relevant manufacturing processes. Experience specifically with automotive manufacturing environment a plus

• Proficiency with CAD (AutoCAD, CATIA, Solid Works)

• Strong propensity to build, assemble, fix and program things

• Hands-on experience, previous internship, and/or project experience is preferred, particularly with machines and mechanisms

• Coursework in analog and digital circuits, control systems, logic, and programming

• Exposure to programming microcontrollers

• Use of common power and hand tools

• Programming experience in C++, Python, SQL or similar language

• Industrial electrical panel design

• PLC programming (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Beckhoff or similar)

• HMI/SCADA programming (WinCC, Ignition or similar)

• Servo motors and controllers (SINAMICS, Kinetix or similar)

• FEA and Simulation programming

• Hands on CNC machining experience

• Experience with industrial robots (Fanuc, Kuka, or similar)

• Experience with stamping simulation software such as Autoform or Pamstamp

• Experience using blue light scanner or PC-DMIS /Hexagon CMM