Internship, Abuse Testing & Engineering (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.

About The Team:

In the Abuse Testing & Engineering group, we push battery systems to their limits and beyond using specialized equipment to apply electrical, mechanical, and thermal stresses. Our goal is to provide rapid feedback to inform designs early in development, by understanding how robust systems perform under abusive conditions. We accommodate external regulations but have a strong focus on internal requirements and testing to failure. Every Tesla battery product comes through our lab, both vehicles and energy storage. Our environment is fast-paced and incredibly exciting.

What You’ll Do

• Run experiments and better understand the thermal and mechanical abuse tolerance of battery components and systems in module/pack level boundary conditions
• Use this understanding to assess hazards and collaborate in the development of hardware across a broad product line
• Create experiments to push battery systems to their limits and use this to inform thermal and mechanical simulation correlation
• Study the properties of different types of failures
• Root cause and recreate extreme/abusive conditions
• Collaborate in the design and manufacturing of future products

What You’ll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Must have strong understanding of heat transfer, combustion principles and fluid mechanics
• Familiarity with battery systems, characteristics, and failures
• Knowledge of lithium-ion batteries preferred
• Hands on experience with equipment testing experience - designing, building, assembling, electrical wiring, and troubleshooting test systems
• Experience in experimental testing and research in an academic or industrial laboratory setting
• Experience with high temperature processes, testing, and/or analysis
• Experience setting up, running, and analyzing hands-on tests and characterization
• Must be hands-on (assembly, fabrication/modification, instrumentation, wiring, electrical troubleshooting)
• Experience with CAD (Catia V5, V6 or Solidworks)
• Experience with software such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, and/or other common programming languages
• Experience with electrical systems (PCB's, resistors, voltage)
• Knowledge of manufacturing methods for prototyping such as machining, welding, sheet metal forming, 3D printing