Mechanical Design Engineer, Vehicle Hardware Fall Internship (Aug 2024)

About Tesla

Tesla Inc. is a global automotive and energy company known for its electric vehicle lineup including Model Y, Model 3, Model X, and Model S, as well as upcoming releases like the Cybertruck and Tesla Roadster. It also offers energy solutions, such as solar panels and storage systems, operating globally with manufacturing plants in the US, Germany, and China.

Your role

This position is expected to start around August 2024 and continue through the entire Fall term (i.e. through December 2024) or into Spring 2025 if available. For most internships, they ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) and on-site.

What you’ll do:

You will design, test, and prototype mechanical components and systems for current and future Tesla vehicles and product programs. Your scope of work will be mechanical, however interdisciplinary and will challenge you to come up with creative solutions to affect rigorous quality and cost-down targets. Additionally, you will work collaboratively with cross-functional partners and external vendors and suppliers.

Your application for the Vehicle Hardware Engineering – Mechanical Design Engineering Internships will be considered across all opportunities for the teams listed below: 

• The Autopilot and Electronics Product Design team works on mechanical design and integration of all electronics modules. The areas an intern could work on can be among Controllers, Car Computer, Camera, Sensors, Radar, Display, Audio, Antenna and Accessories. The camera team within the Autopilot Product Design Team is responsible for the mechanical, electrical and optical integration of their ADAS cameras. Their activities span anywhere from mechanical design and validation of new camera modules to in-depth image quality analysis for optimal neural network detection.
• The Low Voltage Wire Harness team designs all the wiring connecting every device both mechanically and electrically in the vehicle. The Mechanical Engineers on this team use 3D CAD (Catia) to design and package wiring in the vehicle and then transfer their designs to 2D drawings for manufacturing. These Engineers understand a Tesla vehicle from end to end, as they frequently work with other engineering teams to optimize the design of the vehicle.
• The Autopilot Hardware team develops, tests, and manufactures industry-leading products. A significant division of that team is Electronic Packaging, which is a cross-functional team that evaluates new electronic packaging products in development. This team develops and validates the assembly processes with the use of detailed CAD designs. They are responsible for running simulations to validate the design, brainstorming ideas, and performing tests in the lab to characterize package mechanical architecture.

Training & development

The Internship Recruiting Team is driven by the passion to recognize and develop emerging talent. Their 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. They are dedicated to providing an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects critical to their team’s success. 

Salary & benefits

The expected compensation hourly pay range is $20.00 - $55.00 per hour.

As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:

• Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical plan options with $0 payroll deductions.
• Family-building, fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits.
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans. Both have an option with a $0 payroll contribution.
• Company (Health Savings Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Medical Plan with HSA.
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• LGBTQ+ care concierge services.
• 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits.
• Company Paid Basic Life, AD&D, and short-term disability insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Sick time after 90 days of employment and Paid Holidays.
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources.
• Voluntary benefits include critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance.
• Commuter benefits.
• Employee discounts and perks program.

Career progression

Tesla offers a comprehensive array of training, mentorship, project-based work, networking opportunities, and professional development resources to interns, fostering their growth and providing valuable hands-on experience. Career progression at Tesla is often driven by individual performance, initiative, and a willingness to take on new challenges. The company values employees who are passionate about their work, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and are committed to driving Tesla's mission forward. 

Work-life balance

At Tesla, work-life balance is a top priority, with a commitment to providing employees with flexible schedules and support to ensure their well-being. By promoting a healthy harmony between work and personal life, Tesla encourages a productive and motivated workforce. For this role, you must be able to work 40 hours per week on-site. 

Culture & vibe

Tesla’s organizational culture empowers its workforce to search for ideal solutions that make the business stand out in the automotive and energy generation and storage industries. The company encourages employees to innovate to support the continuous improvement of the business. Through the organizational culture, Tesla Inc.’s management optimizes employees to achieve creative and innovative behaviours. 

About you

What you’ll bring:

• Undergraduate or graduate degree (in progress or transitioning) in Mechanical Engineering or related field. 
• Develop designs in CAD for both detailed parts and master model assemblies. 
• Perform tolerance analysis, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and other simulations and analyses before releasing designs for production. 
• Create 2D drawings appropriate for high-volume production and inspection methods. 
• Conduct Design for Manufacturing (DFM) reviews with suppliers and support tooling to bring up. 
• Run validation tests and perform data analysis. 
• Provide factory engineering support to help identify and resolve issues. 
• Hands-on prototyping, testing & troubleshooting.

Sources

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• tesla.com
• youtube.com