Internship, Abuse Testing & Engineering (Fall 2025)

Tesla

2mo ago

Internship
Full-time
Placement Program
Research & Development
Engineering
Palo Alto

AI generated summary

You must pursue a relevant engineering degree, understand heat transfer and fluid mechanics, have hands-on testing experience, CAD skills, and familiarity with battery systems and electrical systems.
You will test battery cells' limits through electrical, mechanical, and thermal stress, provide rapid design feedback, and collaborate with engineers to identify and analyze failure modes.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical 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

Responsibilities

Your application will be considered across all opportunities for the teams listed below:
All Tesla products share a critical component- cells! In the Abuse Test and Engineering group, it is our job to find the electrical, mechanical, and thermal limitations of these cells to ensure products deliver top end performance to our customers and do so in a safe manner. We move fast and do whatever it takes to inform designs early in their development. This makes for an environment that is fast paced, exciting, and offers lots of opportunity to shine while solving tough problems in fun ways. We are looking for driven individuals to support the battery cell abuse team across all Tesla programs. In this role, you would be a part of a dedicated team responsible for exciting tests spanning electrical, thermal, and mechanical abuse.
In the Abuse Test and Engineering group, it is our job to find the electrical, mechanical, and thermal limitations of the batteries and power electronics to ensure products deliver top end performance to our customers and do so in a safe manner. We move fast and do whatever it takes to inform design improvements. This makes for an environment that is fast paced, exciting, and offers lots of opportunity to shine while solving tough problems in fun ways. At Tesla the design improvement and refinement will never stop, and thus our test methods need to match to ensure that new failure modes are understood. You will work directly with the Electrical Abuse Test Group responsible for stress testing the electrical components that protect batteries such as in-house designed fuses and high voltage management systems to ensure new designs meet the Tesla standard.
Cells are the common denominator for every Tesla product. 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 for failure. Every Tesla battery product comes through our lab, both vehicles and energy storage. Our environment is fast-paced and incredibly exciting.
The Abuse Test and Engineering R&D group is primarily responsible for the destructive testing of batteries from the pack, module and cell level. We are expanding rapidly and are involved with all Tesla battery programs.
Engineers within the Abuse Testing and Engineering team routinely tackle extremely difficult engineering challenges and continuously push boundaries into identifying failure modes for high voltage systems (e.g., electric vehicles and energy storage systems). Individuals will work closely with mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, thermal engineers, and firmware engineers to root cause technical issues and conduct recreation testing of failure modes. The role requires materials characterization experience in addition to utilizing skills across many disciplines (mechanical, thermal, electrical).

FAQs

What is the expected start date for the internship?

The internship is expected to start around August or September 2025.

How long is the internship program?

The internship is designed for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time and on-site, through the Fall term, with the possibility of continuing into Winter/Spring 2026.

Can international students apply for this internship?

Yes, international students can apply, but those on CPT should consult their school about their ability to work 40 hours per week before applying.

Where are the possible locations for this internship?

The internship may be located in Palo Alto, CA; Fremont, CA; or Reno, NV.

What degree programs are preferred for candidates applying for this internship?

Candidates should be pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.

What are the key responsibilities associated with this internship?

Responsibilities may include supporting the battery cell abuse team, conducting tests on electrical, mechanical, and thermal limitations, and assisting in developing design improvements.

What skills or experience are required for applicants?

Applicants should have an understanding of heat transfer, combustion principles, and fluid mechanics, along with hands-on experience in testing systems and familiarity with battery systems.

What software or programming skills are preferred for this internship?

Experience with software such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, and other common programming languages is preferred.

Are there any benefits associated with the internship?

Yes, benefits include medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as contributions to Health Savings Accounts, 401(k), employee stock purchase plans, and more.

What is the expected pay range for this internship?

The expected compensation ranges from $20.00 to $50.00 per hour, depending on various factors including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Tesla

Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.

Automotive

Industry

10,001+

Employees

2003

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy through increasingly affordable electric vehicles in addition to renewable energy generation and storage. California-based Tesla is committed to having the best-in-class in safety, performance, and reliability in all Tesla cars. There are currently over 275,000 Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles on the road worldwide. To achieve a sustainable energy future, Tesla also created infinitely scalable energy products: Powerwall, Powerpack and Solar Roof. As the world’s only vertically integrated energy company, Tesla continues to innovate, scale and reduce the costs of commercial and grid-scale systems, with the goal of ultimately getting us to 100% renewable energy grids.