About the role#
The Thermal R&D team manages system-level thermal architecture for Tesla vehicles, including components like compressors, pumps, fans, and heat exchangers. This team supports cabin, battery, and powertrain thermal needs. As an intern, you will work on prototyping and testing next-generation vehicle thermal systems, building numerical models, and improving system performance and reliability.
What you'll do#
- Design and build prototype testing facilities from scratch.
- Manage instrumentation, data acquisition, and processing to validate hardware and models.
- Investigate new architectures and component designs.
- Develop detailed and reduced order thermal models.
- Optimize hardware, controls, and vehicle diagnostics.
- Improve vehicle performance, supercharge capability, occupant comfort, and NVH.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a Mechanical Engineering degree or related field.
- Strong understanding of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics.
- Relevant project or research experience.
- Demonstrated history of prototyping, building facilities, testing, and data analysis for proof of concept.
- Experience building numerical models and performing experimental characterization of thermal, fluid, or refrigerant systems and heat exchangers.
Location & details#
- Location: Fremont, California.
- Term: Winter 2027 (January through May).
- Commitment: Full-time, 40 hours per week, on-site.
- This is a paid internship.
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.
