Internship, Embedded Software Engineer, Steering, Chassis Systems (Fall 2026)

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Internship, Embedded Software Engineer, Steering, Chassis Systems (Fall 2026)

| Job Category | Vehicle Software | | Location | PALO ALTO, California | | Req. ID | 274047 | | Job Type | Intern/Apprentice |

What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start August or September 2026 and continue through fall term (ending approximately December 2026) or continuing into Winter/Spring 2027 if available and there is an opportunity to do so. 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 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

The Chassis Systems Software team is a combination of software engineers, mechatronics engineers, and vehicle dynamics engineers. As a member of the Tesla steering firmware team, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality embedded code that controls the steering rack and feedback actuator on steer-by-wire systems. Come join a team of highly knowledgeable engineers that strive to build the safest and most performant vehicle control systems in production. You will solve some of the most challenging problems that span vehicle dynamics, motor controls, safety systems, and embedded software engineering.

What You’ll Do

• Deliver high-quality C code in a real-time embedded environment
• Specify, design, and implement functionality and behaviors of embedded subsystems
• Design the software architecture and firmware implementation on hardware through integration, test and high-volume manufacturing
• Hands-on hardware bring-up, system debugging and code optimization
• Make performance and optimization trade-offs to meet product requirements

What You’ll Bring

• Pursuing a Bachelor or master's degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field of study with a graduation date between December 2026 - December 2027
• Strong, hands-on, C coding experience
• Embedded development experience, preferred
• Low-level development on microcontrollers, for embedded development, preferred
• Experience working on complex PCBAs, for embedded development, preferred
• Experience writing software on controllers, preferred
• Experience bringing up multi-disciplinary systems driven by software, preferred
• Knowledge of physics, mechanical, and electrical systems, preferred

Compensation and Benefits

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)

• 401(k), 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

• $42.07 - $58.89 + 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.

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any factor, including veteran status and disability status, protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

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