Internship, Chassis Validation Engineer, Vehicle Firmware (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.
Your application for the Chassis Validation Engineer Internship will be considered across all opportunities for the teams listed below:
Drive Systems:
Drive Systems support the development and validation of new inverter and motor hardware as well as firmware features for new and existing cars. Their efforts improve the efficiency, reliability, cost, and customer experience of Tesla's vehicles. Firmware integration is a highly cross-functional role that requires an intern to quickly form working relationships with teams across the company including firmware development, manufacturing test, and vehicle program management, while also demanding technical proficiency in embedded development and testing.
Chassis Controls:
We are looking for a Chassis Controls validation engineer. You will be responsible for validating and testing safety critical chassis controls software (Traction Control, Stability Control, Steering, ABS, etc.). The role is part test execution but also part test design. You will spend most of your time at proving grounds in prototype vehicles and will be expected to not only execute maneuvers but also be able to compile and change software and understand hardware change impact on the control systems and vehicle attributes.
Chassis Systems:
The Chassis Systems Software team is a combination of software engineers, mechatronics engineers, and vehicle dynamics engineers. We work on challenging problems that span safety-critical software, embedded systems, motor controls, electronics actuation, and vehicle dynamics. Shipping safety-critical code at high velocity to millions of vehicles requires exhaustive and efficient test infrastructure. A validation internship in the chassis systems team gives an opportunity to work alongside industry leading teams that are solving this in production at scale.
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.
Your application for the Chassis Validation Engineer Internship will be considered across all opportunities for the teams listed below:
Drive Systems:
Drive Systems support the development and validation of new inverter and motor hardware as well as firmware features for new and existing cars. Their efforts improve the efficiency, reliability, cost, and customer experience of Tesla's vehicles. Firmware integration is a highly cross-functional role that requires an intern to quickly form working relationships with teams across the company including firmware development, manufacturing test, and vehicle program management, while also demanding technical proficiency in embedded development and testing.
Chassis Controls:
We are looking for a Chassis Controls validation engineer. You will be responsible for validating and testing safety critical chassis controls software (Traction Control, Stability Control, Steering, ABS, etc.). The role is part test execution but also part test design. You will spend most of your time at proving grounds in prototype vehicles and will be expected to not only execute maneuvers but also be able to compile and change software and understand hardware change impact on the control systems and vehicle attributes.
Chassis Systems:
The Chassis Systems Software team is a combination of software engineers, mechatronics engineers, and vehicle dynamics engineers. We work on challenging problems that span safety-critical software, embedded systems, motor controls, electronics actuation, and vehicle dynamics. Shipping safety-critical code at high velocity to millions of vehicles requires exhaustive and efficient test infrastructure. A validation internship in the chassis systems team gives an opportunity to work alongside industry leading teams that are solving this in production at scale.
Responsibilities
- Create and develop automated Software in the Loop (SIL), Processor in the Loop (PIL), and Hardware in the loop (HIL) validation infrastructure to enable reliable, efficient, thorough, accurate, and repeatable tests
- Develop and execute automated regression test suites for safety-critical chassis software
- Continuously analyze and improve regression test suite coverage
- Create and execute board level test plans to expose weaknesses or faults
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 proficiency in Python or C
- Experience with Software in the Loop (SIL) and Hardware in the Loop (HIL)
- Validation, testing, and debugging experience is preferred
- Experience with Rust or VHDL is a plus
- Scripting skills in other common languages is a plus (Perl, Shell, Bash)
- Knowledge and experience with automation and build tools is a plus (Jenkins, Docker, SCons, Buck)
- Ability to read and review electronic circuit schematic is a plus
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
$40.10 - $56.13 + 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.