Internship, Robotics Audio DSP Engineer, Optimus (Fall 2026)

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Internship, Robotics Audio DSP Engineer, Optimus (Fall 2026)

| Job Category | Tesla AI | | Location | Palo Alto, California | | Req. ID | 272002 | | 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 summer 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.

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.

Tesla's Robotics team is hiring an Audio Engineering Intern with years of hands-on experience designing, validating, and shipping acoustics solutions, loudspeakers, microphones, and signal processing products. In this pivotal role, you'll take part in driving substantial impact by ensuring the audio systems in our robots are built to the highest quality standards, validating key audio features that enhance AI perception and interaction capabilities, and safeguarding performance throughout the product lifecycle. Working in a dynamic, fast-paced development and manufacturing environment, you'll channel your passion for audio perfection to root-cause manufacturing issues and create efficient procedures, tools, and infrastructure for automated audio testing tailored to robotic applications.

You'll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including AI, software, hardware, manufacturing, and integration experts—to deeply understand design, function, and quality metrics, then apply that insight to protect product integrity before, during, and after assembly. As a core member of the product development team, you'll share responsibility for delivering innovative audio solutions that integrate seamlessly with AI algorithms, exceed customer expectations, and elevate overall satisfaction in human-robot interactions.

What You’ll Do

• Design and develop advance audio signal processing for real-time application
• Generate and augment audio datasets using acoustic simulation tool and familiarity with tools such as PyAcoustics and sound-spaces
• Implement and optimize lightweight audio ML models for keyword detection and multi-channel noise suppressor
• Provide early feedback on algorithm performance and enable data driven decisions to enhance audio experience on Tesla Bot with natural language processing
• Conduct hands-on testing and tuning of audio algorithms and systems to ensure performance and quality in dynamic robotic scenarios
• Drive data collection, automation, debugging and functional verification
• Host cross-functional sensor design discussions with electrical, software, manufacturing and AI teams

What You’ll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Audio Engineering, or a related field with a graduation date between 2026 - 2027
• Experience with programming languages such as MATLAB or Python for algorithm development, simulation, and data analysis
• Good understanding of applied acoustics, digital signal processing, and acoustic measurements and analysis
• Familiarity with the application of machine learning tools and techniques on audio
• Have excellent problem-solving skills, including the ability to be a creative thinker, devise creative solutions to complicated problems and yet reach fact-based decision
• Positive team player who can work in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment with cross-functional teams (design, engineering, reliability, supply chain, industrialization, and manufacturing)

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

• $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.

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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