What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application:  

This position is expected to start around January or February 2025 and continue through the entire Spring term (i.e. through May 2025) or into Spring/Summer 2025 if available. We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time and on-site, for most 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

Thermal Engineering is the team behind the Tesla Heat Pump, Supermanifold, Octovalve, Superbottle, Airwave, Bioweapon Defense Mode and more. Our multi-disciplinary team of mechanical, manufacturing, electrical, aerodynamics, and thermal engineers works together across all phases of development from idea inception, through prototyping, production, and fleet support. 

Thermal R&D is responsible for system level thermal architecture (including radiators, refrigerant heat exchangers, compressors, fans, pumps, etc.) supporting the cabin, battery, and powertrain across all Tesla vehicles. We’re looking for the engineers that are interested in implementing thermal models and numerical solvers from scratch, pushing the limits of heat exchanger design, and finding the next step up for system COP 

At Tesla you will get the training, mentorship, resources, and opportunities to drive meaningful projects that raise the bar for electric vehicles and build your career. Come join our team and help accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. 

What You’ll Do

Testing – instrumentation, data acquisition, and processing are critical for hardware / model validation and investigating new architectures  

Analysis – detailed and reduced order thermal model development and studies are heavily leveraged for hardware optimization, controls, and vehicle diagnostics 

Success in this role will help us drive forward vehicle performance, supercharge capability, occupant comfort, and NVH 

What You’ll Bring

Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field 

Excellent first principles understanding of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics with relevant project and research experience 

Experience in developing numerical models and experimental characterization of thermal/fluid/refrigerant systems and heat exchangers

Fremont, California

Intern/Apprentice