Teslas in-house Lithium Refinery located in the greater Corpus Christi area of Texas is critical to our mission to accelerate the worlds transition to sustainable energy. This investment aims to increase the supply of battery-grade lithium hydroxide in North America.
We are seeking multiple Chemical Operator Interns to join our team and help further our mission. This position involves quality control sampling equipment monitoring, troubleshooting, and loading/unloading finished goods and raw materials.
Chemical Operators work on a rotating shift team focusing on field and control room chemical unit operations to safely run process systems and associated equipment during their shift. Students selected for the program will temporarily pause their academic coursework to participate in a full-time up to 16-week internship during the Fall 2026 semester.
This internship provides students with hands-on experience in Teslas high-tech, fast-paced industrial environment. This will be a rotating Du Pont schedule with day and night assignments.
Responsibilities:
• Understand Life Critical Policies and Hazard Recognition principles and effectively communicate to team members and work groups via safety meetings, job interactions, and work permit issuance. • Communicate with team members regarding safety equipment status, production quality, and operational issues using detailed written and electronic notes. • Operate equipment in accordance with all safety, quality, and efficiency standards by following written and verbal work instructions. • Follow procedures to safely operate, clear startup, shut down, and Lock Out equipment related to chemical manufacturing safely and efficiently. • Provide initial response to unplanned events to minimize the impact on personnel, the environment, and equipment.
Requirements:
• Must be a student of Del Mar College in the Process Technology Program and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.9 and have completed between 30 and 60 semester credit hours. • Transcripts will be requested. • Must have command of the English language both written and verbal.
Physical Demands:
• Ability to perform physically demanding work for extended periods of time up to 12 hours a day. • Ability to stand and walk for up to 12 hours a day, including over varied and uneven terrain. • Climb stairs, stand for extended periods of time, and safely lift up to 50 pounds. • Frequently and repetitively bend, lift, and reach. • Stoop, lay, bend, reach, squat, kneel, crouch, twist, and crawl for extended periods of time, including up to 12 hours a day. • Climb and maintain balance on ladders, scaffolding, or other high structures. • Ability to find issues in a work process and receive safety signals using sight, touch, or hearing.
Benefits:
As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:
• Medical plans > plan options with 0 payroll deduction • Family-building fertility adoption and surrogacy benefits • Dental, including orthodontic coverage and vision plans • Both have an option with a 0 payroll contribution • Company Paid Health Savings Account HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Medical Plan with HSA • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts FSA • 401k Employee Stock Purchase Plans and other financial benefits • Company Paid Basic Life AD&D and short-term disability insurance • 90-day waiting period • Employee Assistance Program • Sick and Vacation time • Flex time for salary positions and Paid Holidays • Back-up childcare and parenting support resources • Voluntary benefits to include critical illness hospital indemnity accident insurance theft & legal services and pet insurance • Commuter benefits • Employee discounts and perks program