About the role#
As a Thermal Controls Engineer intern, you will join the Vehicle Controls team to design, simulate, and calibrate algorithms for thermal systems. You will work on powertrain, battery-pack, heat pump, and cabin HVAC performance. This role involves solving challenges related to battery thermal management during supercharging, heat pump process control, and occupant climate comfort.
What you'll do#
- Research and develop estimation and control algorithms for thermal management systems.
- Build numerical system models to create, refine, and implement control strategies.
- Collaborate with Firmware, Integration, and Hardware teams to test and debug algorithms directly on vehicles.
- Investigate fleet performance and customer feedback to improve thermal control systems.
- Advance existing thermal and HVAC control technologies.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical, or related engineering degree program.
- Graduation date between May 2027 and May 2028.
- Strong understanding of heat transfer, thermodynamics, and components like pumps, radiators, and refrigerant systems.
- Experience with dynamic system modeling, linear systems analysis, state-estimation, and control system design.
- Ability to design and implement control systems for real-world applications.
- Comfort working with actual vehicles or test-benches for controller refinement.
- Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded firmware or data analytics tools like SQL, Spark, and Python is a plus.
Location & details#
- Location: Palo Alto, California.
- Modality: On-site, full-time (40 hours per week).
- Terms: Winter 2027 and Summer 2027.
- Minimum commitment: 12 weeks.
About Tesla
Tesla produces electric vehicles, battery storage systems, and solar energy products. Founded in 2003, the company operates six vertically integrated factories across three continents. It is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and employs over 10,000 people. The organization designs, manufactures, sells, and services its products internally.
How to get in at Tesla
Applying early at Tesla provides a distinct advantage because recruiters review candidates before the applicant pool becomes unmanageable. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first and get seen before the pile grows. Reaching out to the right people often yields better results than submitting to a general queue. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company roles so you can contact them directly to ask about the position or a referral, which materially improves your response rates.
