Internship, Software Validation Engineer, Steering, Chassis Systems (Fall 2026)

What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start August or September 2026 and continue through fall term (ending approximately December 2026) or continuing into Winter/Spring 2027 if available and there is an opportunity to do so. 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 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.

About the team:

The Steering Software team is looking for a Validation Engineering intern to develop and execute test cases, bring-up and maintain Hardware in the Loop (HIL) testers and validate new steering features and functions. This role is crucial to releasing high-quality software to our existing customers and new product development. Creating, maintaining, and scaling highly efficient and effective validation systems gives us more confidence in our releases and changes.

The Steering Software team is responsible for steering controls, ranging from low-level embedded drivers to high-level application logic. Come join a team of deeply knowledgeable engineers that strive to build the most robust and reliable embedded systems using cutting-edge software development tools and practices. You will solve some of the most ambiguous and challenging problems in the embedded software space and change how the world produces electric vehicles.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute validation test plans for steering and chassis software features
• Analyze test data and document results to identify issues and improvement opportunities
• Support hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and vehicle-level testing activities
• Collaborate with engineering teams to reproduce and troubleshoot software issues
• Maintain test documentation and contribute to process improvements
• Participate in design reviews and provide feedback on test coverage

What You’ll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field of study with a graduation date between December 2026 - December 2027
• Excellent proficiency in Python or C
• Experience with Rust is a plus
• Scripting skills in other common languages is a plus (Shell, Bash)
• Knowledge of version control (Git) and continuous integration
• Knowledge and experience with automation and build tools is a plus (Jenkins, Docker, SCons)
• Ability to read and review electronic circuit schematic is a plus