This position is expected to start May 2026 and continue through summer term ending approximately August 2026 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.
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 teams success.
About the Team
As a CAE Engineering intern, you will guide the design of sensors and structural components using high-fidelity FE models grounded in sound engineering principles. Working closely with mechanical, electrical, controls, software, and manufacturing teams, youll analyze and optimize designs, challenge traditional CAE methods, and pioneer more efficient, accurate approaches. This role places you at the forefront of critical design and engineering decisions, shaping a robust and reliable humanoid robot that has never been executed before.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and analyze comprehensive Finite Element (FE) models for Optimus from individual components to the full system.
- Conduct static, dynamic, structural, and MBD simulations to evaluate and validate the performance against key requirements for strength, stiffness, durability, and sensing.
- Build and refine simulation workflows to assess performance across diverse operating scenarios; automate processes, documentation, and tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and repeatability.
- Provide design guidance to world-class engineering teams, enabling data-driven product decisions.
- Collaborate with Test Engineering to design and validate experiments, correlate test data with simulations, and enhance predictive modeling capabilities.
- Establish and maintain modeling standards, methods, and best practices for current and future programs.
- Perform material characterization and advanced modeling of structural and sensing components.
- Plan and execute large-scale DOEs, creating ML-driven surrogate models to extract insights to drive key design decisions.
Requirements:
- Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field.
- Strong engineering fundamentals and ability to perform first-principles analysis to ensure a successful design (stress-strain, thermal tolerance, cost, and mass optimization, etc.).
- Demonstrated ability to guide structural, sensing, thermal, and mechanism designs through CAE from concept to mass production across robotics, automotive, and consumer electronics.
- Proficiency in CAE Tools such as BETA CAE, LS-DYNA, Abaqus, ADAMS, COMSOL, OPTISTRUCT, Design Life, FE Safe.
- Exposure in building high-fidelity FE models at component, sub-system, and full-system levels.
- Proficiency in linear and non-linear static, dynamic, and modal simulations and experience developing multi-physics simulation workflows (e.g., thermal-mechanical, mechanical-electrical).
- Advanced knowledge in material characterization and modeling, including nonlinear elasticity, viscoelasticity, creep, and strain-rate dependent plasticity in Metals, Plastics, Polymers, and Adhesives.
- Strong programming and data analysis skills in MATLAB, Python, or equivalent.
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 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.
Expected Compensation: $20.00 - $55.00 + benefits.
Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.