Internship, Controls Engineer, Manufacturing (Fall 2026)

What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start August or September 2026 and continue through fall term (ending approximately December 2026 or later, if available). We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) 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.

The Internship Recruiting Team is driven by the passion to recognize and develop emerging talent. Our 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. We provide an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team's success.

About the Team

Tesla is seeking highly-motivated interns to contribute to the design and development of new automation equipment and assembly lines for our advanced production facilities. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the team "building the machine that makes the machine". Tesla is a demanding and fast-paced environment where you will work on a critical subsystem of incredibly exciting products and may work in one of the following departments:Automation Development,Vehicle Manufacturing,Paint Manufacturing, orPowertrain Manufacturing.

The Controls Engineering Intern will work under the guidance of Controls Engineers to develop, design, and program control systems for new equipment being deployed to the production floor. The Intern will learn, apply and contribute to the further development of Tesla's innovative controls program architecture to components such as logic controllers, machine interfaces, servo drives, and industrial robots used in our production processes.

Multiple Locations Possible: Austin, TX; Buffalo, NY; Fremont, CA; Lathrop, CA; Sparks, NV

What You'll Do

• Lay out new industrial electrical control panels which are NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant, and create electrical schematics

• Develop and debug ladder logic PLC code with an emphasis on generating code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable

• Interface with conveyors, robots, Manufacturing Execution System (MES), LabView

• Implement (ANSI/RIA15.06/OSHA compliant) control reliable safety systems for safeguarding

• Generate aesthetically simple HMI screens for complex machinery while providing sufficient feedback for troubleshooting

• Commission vision cameras for part inspection and 2D/3D guidance of machinery (Cognex, Keyence)

• Manage and implement small machine projects from start to finish

What You'll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Computer Science or a related field

• Coursework in analog and digital circuits, control systems, logic, and programming

• Exposure to programming microcontrollers

• Proficiency with CAD (AutoCAD, CATIA, SolidWorks)

• Able to work under pressure while managing competing demands and tight deadlines

• Exemplary verbal and written communication skills and well organized with meticulous attention to detail

• Strong propensity to build, assemble, fix and program things is preferred

• Use of common power and hand tools is preferred

• Mastery of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and programming experience in C++, Python, SQL or similar language is preferred

• Experience with industrial electrical panel design,PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff or similar),HMI/SCADA programming (Allen-Bradley, Ignition or similar), industrial robots (Fanuc, Kuka or similar) andServo motors and controllers (Kinetix or similar) is preferred

Compensation and Benefits Benefits

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

• Medical plans > 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 (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions), 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 $20.00 - $50.00/hour + 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.