New

Internship, CAE Mechanical Design Engineer, Optimus (Summer 2026)

Tesla Motors, Inc.
20.00 - 55.00 USD
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, California, Palo Alto
Mar 27, 2026
What to Expect This position is expected to start May 2026 and continue throughsummerterm (endingapproximately August 2026or later, if available). We ask for a minimum of12 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 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. About the Team: As a CAE Engineering intern, you will guide the design of sensors and structural components using high-fidelity FE models grounded in sound engineering principles Working closely with mechanical, electrical, controls, software, and manufacturing teams, you'll analyze and optimize designs, challenge traditional CAE methods, and pioneer more efficient, accurate approaches. This role places you at the forefront of critical design and engineering decisions, shaping a robust and reliable humanoid robot that has never been executed before. What You'll Do Develop and analyze comprehensive Finite Element (FE) models for Optimus, from individual components to the full system Conduct static, dynamic, structural and MBD simulations to evaluate andvalidatethe performance against key requirements for strength, stiffness,durabilityand sensing Build and refine simulation workflows to assess performance across diverse operating scenarios, automate processes, documentation, and tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and repeatability Providedesign guidance to world-class engineering teams, enabling data-driven product decisions Collaborate with Test Engineering to design andvalidateexperiments, correlate test data with simulations, and enhance predictive modeling capabilities Establish andmaintainmodeling standards, methods, and best practices for current and future programs Material characterization and advanced modeling of structural and sensing components Plan and execute large-scale DOEs, creating ML driven surrogate models to extract insights to drive key design decisions What You'll Bring Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics,Mechatronicsor a related field Strong engineering fundamentals and ability to perform first-principles analysis to ensure a successful design (stress-strain, thermal, tolerance,costand mass optimization, etc.) Demonstrated ability to guide structural, sensing, thermal, and mechanism designs through CAE, from concept to mass production, across robotics, automotive, and consumer electronics Proficiencyin CAE Tools such as BETA CAE, LS-DYNA, Abaqus, ADAMS, COMSOL, OPTISTRUCT, Design Life, FE Safe Exposurein buildinghigh-fidelity FE models atcomponent, sub-system, and full-system levels Proficiencyin linear and non-linear static, dynamic and modal simulations and experience developing multi-physics simulation workflows (e.g., thermal-mechanical, mechanical-electrical) Advanced knowledge in material characterization and modeling, including nonlinear elasticity, viscoelasticity, creep, and strain-rate dependent plasticity in Metals, Plastics, Polymers and Adhesives Strong programming and data analysis skills in MATLAB, Python, or equivalent 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 - $55.00/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.