About the role#
As an intern on the Design team, you will participate in live studio projects and work as a productive member of the team. You will contribute to future vehicle designs and assist with other design tasks based on your specific skillset. This role requires managing your own time and driving your projects forward. Please note that all work is confidential and cannot be shared outside of the studio, though there may be opportunities for personal projects for your portfolio on a case-by-case basis.
What you'll do#
- Develop design proposals for Tesla vehicles, from broad themes to specific components.
- Create sketches that show a vision for the future of Tesla design.
- Guide designs from the sketch phase to concept modeling in Alias or clay, and potentially through to A-class surfacing.
- Collaborate with engineers to find design and engineering solutions in CMF.
- Participate in non-vehicle design efforts based on team needs and your personal skillset.
What you'll need#
- Currently pursuing a degree in Transportation Design, Vehicle Design, Automotive Design, or a related field.
- Interest in working on both exterior and interior design.
- High level of skill in taking 2D sketches to 3D modeling using poly modeling, Alias, and clay.
- Excellent visual and oral communication skills.
- Ability to build and maintain cross-functional working relationships.
- Self-motivation and the ability to manage multiple parallel-path projects.
- Technical knowledge of prototyping, manufacturing, and assembly processes is a plus.
- A portfolio or personal website must be submitted for consideration.
Location & details#
- Location: Hawthorne, California.
- Term: Winter 2027 through Spring 2027.
- Commitment: Full-time (40 hours per week), on-site, for a minimum of 12 weeks.
- Eligibility: Open to students actively enrolled in an academic program.
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.
