Internship, Factory Firmware Embedded Software Engineer, Vehicle Software (Fall 2025)
Apply NowCompany: Tesla, Inc
Location: Palo Alto, CA 94303
Description:
Consider before submitting an application:
This position is expected to start around August or September 2025 and continue through the Fall term (ending approximately December 2025) or continuing into Winter/Spring 2026 if available and there is an opportunity to do so. We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time 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.
About the Team
We are looking for a highly motivated Software Engineer Intern to join our Factory Firmware team. The team serves as the bridge between vehicle software R&D and the manufacturing environment; the team works globally and cross functionally towards supporting manufacturing with various KPIs, design solutions to improve efficiency, improving validation of vehicle software before it's integrated into manufacturing, and launching exciting new products. The Factory Firmware Team is the eyes and ears of the Vehicle Software organization within the factory and often have the last say on the integration of new firmware to manufacturing - providing valuable insight and feedback to accelerate development of new software features.
The Role
This role will focus on initiatives to use vehicle software and firmware as a tool to improve manufacturability of our vehicles and develop solutions to ensure production uptime and quality. This will require an understanding of multiple vehicle software stacks, from embedded systems to diagnostic tooling, as well as vehicle electrical and hardware systems. Therefore, curiosity and willingness to learn new concepts are critical to connect the dots between multiple vehicle interfaces and design end-to-end solutions together with other teams.
Responsibilities
Requirements
Compensation and Benefits
Benefits
As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:
This position is expected to start around August or September 2025 and continue through the Fall term (ending approximately December 2025) or continuing into Winter/Spring 2026 if available and there is an opportunity to do so. We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time 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.
About the Team
We are looking for a highly motivated Software Engineer Intern to join our Factory Firmware team. The team serves as the bridge between vehicle software R&D and the manufacturing environment; the team works globally and cross functionally towards supporting manufacturing with various KPIs, design solutions to improve efficiency, improving validation of vehicle software before it's integrated into manufacturing, and launching exciting new products. The Factory Firmware Team is the eyes and ears of the Vehicle Software organization within the factory and often have the last say on the integration of new firmware to manufacturing - providing valuable insight and feedback to accelerate development of new software features.
The Role
This role will focus on initiatives to use vehicle software and firmware as a tool to improve manufacturability of our vehicles and develop solutions to ensure production uptime and quality. This will require an understanding of multiple vehicle software stacks, from embedded systems to diagnostic tooling, as well as vehicle electrical and hardware systems. Therefore, curiosity and willingness to learn new concepts are critical to connect the dots between multiple vehicle interfaces and design end-to-end solutions together with other teams.
Responsibilities
- Identify vehicle software/firmware improvements to aid in bringing up new vehicles and factories
- Develop firmware solutions to enable new product introduction
- Develop software tools used to diagnose vehicles that need repairs to their electronic systems
- Develop improvements to the testing infrastructure used for vehicles in the factory
- Design improvements to improve manufacturing operations rate, quality, safety, & efficiency
- Become a technical expert in multiple vehicle subsystems to understand functionality within the manufacturing environment
- Understand and debug hardware and software interactions during design, launch, and deployment of products or features
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field of study with a graduation date between December 2025 - December 2026
- Excellent at hands-on debugging complex subsystems involving network microprocessors and software-controlled electrical or electromechanical devices
- Strong Python/C/C++ comprehension
- Excellent software engineering skills, preferably C
- Experience integrating multiple software systems
- First-principles approach to unfamiliar problems
- Capable of working in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment
- Excitement to learn new technologies in any area of the stack
- Effective communication skills and attention to detail
- Ability to prioritize and split time between multiple large-scale projects
Compensation and Benefits
Benefits
As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:
- Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical 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
- Employee Assistance Program
- Sick time after 90 days of employment 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
$36.06 - $56.12 + 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.