Internship, Mechanical Engineer, Cell Engineering (Summer 2024)

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What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application:  
This position is expected to start around May 2024 and continue through the entire Summer term (i.e. through August 2024) or into Fall 2024 if available. We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time and on-site, for most 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 are dedicated to providing an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team’s success. 

Locations: Palo Alto, CA, Fremont, CA, Austin, TX, Reno, NV, Toronto, ON  

What You’ll Do

Tesla is looking to hire a Mechanical Design Intern to design and deploy specialized development equipment for our cutting-edge vehicle battery products. This position will help drive technological advancement in this area while working closely with cross-functional teams. Battery development is at the heart of our company, and this is an exciting opportunity to work directly on the central challenges with electric vehicles – battery cost and performance. Tesla is a demanding and fast-paced environment where you will work with a highly motivated team on extremely challenging projects.

Qualified applicants may be reviewed by one or more of the following teams:

Manufacturing Equipment Engineering Internship

• The Cell Manufacturing Engineering team is at the frontier of the company, responsible for implementing and scaling Tesla’s ability to manufacture 4680 form factor battery cells. High level tasks of the team include developing and testing processes, designing equipment, installing, and ramping new production lines, and troubleshooting manufacturing issues that affect production and quality targets. This specific role will be for an intern in the team, who will work across subset of the above tasks while being guided by his mentor.

Mechanical Engineering Internship

• Work on cross functional teams with PM, Controls, manufacturing, and technicians to support and troubleshoot new and existing mechanical designs. Prepare 3D CAD models, detailed drawings, mechanical BOMs, safety documentation and various parts lists for use by other teams. Support mechanical builds, proof of principle assemblies and production machinery. Tesla is accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. We design, manufacture, sell and service the world’s best solar technology, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles, providing customers the opportunity to generate, store and consume energy entirely sustainably.

Electrode Manufacturing – Mechanical Engineering Internship

• Looking for a Mechanical Engineering Intern with experience in a manufacturing environment, practical tool skills, and 3D design experience to support Electrode Manufacturing Engineering, and Electrode Mass Production Lines design, installation and commissioning. 

Mixing Mechanical Design Engineer Internship

• Be on the forefront of bringing dry battery electrode manufacturing technology and the 4680 battery cell to high volume production- making substantial contribution to the acceleration of sustainable energy.

Can Stamping – Mechanical Engineering Internship

• Tesla Can Stamping is a heavily automated high speed/high volume/high precision Can production line for the new 4680 Cells. The It is a fast-paced environment where a multi-disciplinary team is working on solving a variety of unique manufacturing challenges to increase the production throughput and yield. 

Supplier Industrialization Engineering Internship

• Tesla’s Supplier Industrialization team is responsible for critical component development and qualification activities at suppliers. The job involves communicating well with internal and external teams, traveling to suppliers in different regions, and on-the-spot critical decision making. This position will be responsible for sustaining and improving supplier product quality using collaborative efforts to accomplish this task. The goal: delivering on time quantities of high-quality component parts into Tesla’s production processes to enable extremely rapid development cycles and product launches. 

Mechanical Design Engineering Intern – In-House Cell Engineering

• As a Mechanical Design Engineering Intern, you will be collaborating with engineers of various disciplines (CAE, manufacturing/process, test, and other design teams) to develop Li–ion cell components and systems from concept through production launch and ramp. The candidate will be required to prepare 3D CAD models, own basic analyses (FEA, Excel, MATLAB, scripting), prepare detailed drawings, manage mechanical BOMs, develop/author technical specifications, and drive research and experiments to advance Tesla’s internal knowledge base of cell design principles, failure modes, and development opportunities. The ideal candidate is a driven engineer with a passion for hands–on engineering and a strong interest in learning from first principles.

What You’ll Bring

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent
• Proficient in 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred, CATIA, AutoCAD, 3DX)
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills

Please note that the following skills listed below are suggestions and not strict prerequisites.

Manufacturing Equipment Engineering Internship

• Strong skills in MS Excel or Minitab, or working knowledge in Python, SQL or JMP
• Skills in PLC programming
• Knowledge of web handling processes
• Knowledge of battery cell

Electrode Manufacturing – Mechanical Engineering Internship

• Fabrication Drawings & GDT
• Practical knowledge and use of both hand and power tools
• Machining & Fabrication Experience

 Mixing Mechanical Design Engineer Internship

• Experience designing components and assemblies. Familiar with common fabrication methods including: machining, rolling, welding, additive manufacturing, molding, extrusions
• Knowledgeable of tolerances and some exposure to GD&T
• Experience in some of the following: Malab, Python, CFD Packages, Structural FEA packages, statistical analysis: JMP, Minitab

 Can Stamping – Mechanical Design Internship

• Demonstrated experience in electromechanical design and analysis of tooling, equipment, and automation
• Proficiency in Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Familiarity with international technical standards for machine design
• Familiarity with equipment safety standards and practices (ANSI, NFPA, LOTO, OSHA)
• Broad experience with prototyping and fabrication methods
• Experience generating electrical and pneumatic schematics a plus (AutoCAD or E-Plan preferred)
• Familiarity with industrial controls and integration a plus (PLC/HMI)

 Cell Manufacturing Engineering Intern

• Demonstrated ability to create designs that produce quality products
• Experience creating automated systems
• Demonstrated project experience from design through build and testing

Supplier Industrialization Engineering Internship

• Experience in Quality Systems a plus: PPAP/APQP processes 
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 and/or IATF 16949 Standards 
• Background in Statistical Process Control, Capability Analysis (Cp, Cpk), MSA, FMEA, Control Plans
• In-depth knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and inspection 
• Possess demonstrable leadership abilities

Mechanical Design Engineering Intern – In-House Cell Engineering

• Working towards B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• Strong knowledge of engineering fundamentals, such as solid mechanics, dynamics, heat transfer, and material properties
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software such as NX, SolidWorks or CATIA preferred
• Basic familiarity with Lithium-ion battery cell and battery design
• Direct machine shop fabrication and prototyping skills
• Proficiency in structural and/or thermal FEA
• Experience with test design and setup, data acquisition and analysis
• Strong technical communication skills
• Proven interest in hands on engineering through project teams, academic projects, passion projects, or equivalent experiences

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)
• LGBTQ+ care concierge services
• 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

$20.00 – $50.00 + 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.

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

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