About the role#
As a Software Engineer intern in the Autonomy Systems Foundations group, you will contribute to the core software stack for Autopilot and Humanoid robots. You will build foundational code that supports various system components, focusing on performance and reliability. Your work will involve optimizing workloads for custom hardware, establishing best coding practices, and creating tools that help other engineers improve their code.
What you'll do#
- Write, debug, and maintain C/C++ software for the Autopilot and Humanoid robot stack.
- Optimize hardware resource usage and leverage custom hardware components.
- Develop GPU kernels and design low-memory image compression libraries.
- Implement high-performance inter-process communication data buffers.
- Improve image and raw data logging and telemetry systems.
- Enhance the stability and performance of evaluation and replay software.
- Build tools to track performance and memory usage.
- Generalize software frameworks while avoiding unnecessary abstraction.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a relevant degree program.
- Expected graduation date between May 2027 and May 2028.
- Strong proficiency in C/C++.
- Experience developing software on Linux for embedded Linux targets.
- Familiarity with Computer Vision or Machine Learning concepts is a plus.
- Experience with performant software design, object-oriented C++, or compiler design is a plus.
Location & details#
- This position is based on-site in Palo Alto, California.
- The internship is full-time, requiring 40 hours per week.
- The term runs from Winter 2027 through Spring 2027, with potential extension into Summer 2027.
- A minimum commitment of 12 weeks is required.
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.
