About the role#
As a Controls Engineering Intern, you will work with our engineering teams to design and program control systems for new equipment on the production floor. You will contribute to the development of our automation equipment and assembly lines. This role involves working on logic controllers, machine interfaces, servo drives, and industrial robots. You will be assigned to departments such as Automation Development, Vehicle Manufacturing, Paint Manufacturing, or Powertrain Manufacturing.
What you'll do#
- Design industrial electrical control panels that meet NFPA79, NEC, and UL508A standards and create electrical schematics.
- Develop and debug ladder logic PLC code that is organized, documented, and reusable.
- Interface with conveyors, robots, Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and LabView.
- Implement safety systems for equipment that comply with ANSI, RIA15.06, and OSHA standards.
- Create HMI screens for machinery that provide clear feedback for troubleshooting.
- Commission vision cameras for part inspection and guidance using systems like Cognex and Keyence.
- Oversee and execute small machine projects from start to finish.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in an Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Computer Science, or related degree program.
- Coursework in analog and digital circuits, control systems, logic, and programming.
- Experience with CAD software such as AutoCAD, CATIA, or SolidWorks.
- Exposure to microcontroller programming.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple deadlines.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with attention to detail.
- A preference for candidates who enjoy building, assembling, and programming hardware.
- Experience with industrial electrical panel design, PLC programming (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff), HMI/SCADA programming, industrial robots, and servo motors is a plus.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Visio, and programming languages like C++, Python, or SQL is preferred.
Location & details#
- Locations: Fremont, CA; Austin, TX; Buffalo, NY; Lathrop, CA; Sparks, NV.
- Term: Winter 2027 and Spring 2027.
- Duration: Minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours per week).
- Modality: On-site.
- Compensation: $27.00 - $46.00 per hour plus benefits.
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.



