About the role#
The Cell Qualification team develops test methods to characterize and qualify cell designs for Tesla products. This role focuses on improving the framework used to qualify cell designs through first-principles thinking and software implementation. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand test lab operations and optimize testing procedures.
What you'll do#
- Design and implement test profiles for cell requirements based on battery behavior.
- Perform hands-on lab testing and analyze electrochemical data to determine measurement accuracy.
- Build data parsers for automatic analysis and establish pipelines to link tests to databases.
- Write Python scripts to process image files and output key test metrics.
- Work with technicians to simplify testing procedures while maintaining precision.
- Collaborate with the modeling team to provide testing frameworks and results.
- Quantify test errors and implement methods to reduce them in standard operating procedures.
- Participate in team meetings and gain experience in the project management lifecycle.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a degree program for Chemistry, Materials Science, Nano Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or Data Science.
- Programming experience with Python, specifically for data processing and analysis.
- Experience with designing, prototyping, or testing lab equipment and PCB design.
- Direct experience working with Li-ion batteries.
- Previous internship experience in an R&D environment or equivalent.
- Demonstrated technical contributions to past projects.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently on multiple projects with complex requirements.
Location & details#
- Locations: Palo Alto, California or San Diego, California.
- Term: Winter 2027 and Spring 2027.
- Modality: On-site, full-time (40 hours per week).
- Commitment: Minimum of 12 weeks.
About Tesla
Tesla produces electric vehicles, battery storage systems, and solar energy products. Founded in 2003, the company operates six vertically integrated factories across three continents. It is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and employs over 10,000 people. The organization designs, manufactures, sells, and services its products internally.
How to get in at Tesla
Applying early at Tesla provides a distinct advantage because recruiters review candidates before the applicant pool becomes unmanageable. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first and get seen before the pile grows. Reaching out to the right people often yields better results than submitting to a general queue. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company roles so you can contact them directly to ask about the position or a referral, which materially improves your response rates.
