Internship, Thermal & HVAC Embedded Software Engineer, Vehicle Firmware (Winter/Spring 2025)

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Tesla

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Palo Alto, CA, United States

Job Category
Vehicle Software

Location
PALO ALTO, California

Req. ID
225119

Job Type
Intern/Apprentice

Tesla participates in the E-Verify Program
What to Expect
Consider before submitting an application:
This position is expected to start around January 2025 and continue through the entire Winter term (i.e. through May 2025) or into Summer 2025 if available. We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time and on-site, for most 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.
As an Embedded Software Engineer Intern on the Thermal & HVAC software team at Tesla, you will play a role in accelerating the delivery and refinement of Tesla-designed thermal systems for our new and existing vehicle products. Your responsibilities will include architecting, designing, and implementing firmware for various motors, actuators, and sensors in the thermal system. Additionally, you will contribute to the development of user-facing features to enhance the accuracy and intuitiveness of the cabin HVAC system.
The thermal management system is one of the biggest consumers of energy in an electric vehicle, making your contributions crucial in improving the efficiency of our vehicles and changing the way the world perceives electric vehicles. You will be responsible for delivering high-quality embedded code that runs on Tesla controllers and production lines. Join a team that is pushing the technology envelope in an open, collaborative, and supportive environment.

What You’ll Do
  • Develop, enhance and debug new and existing behaviors for the coolant, refrigerant and cabin HVAC systems

  • Drive firmware development in C in a real-time embedded environment for performance, scalability, robustness, and tight integration with the hardware

  • Hands-on with hardware bring up, build and enforce component validation for delivering robust, functional code

  • Collaborate across disciplines with electrical, mechanical and controls engineering teams to produce integrated software-hardware solutions

  • Work with various cross-functional teams to develop requirements for new thermal system features, diagnostics, algorithms, etc

  • Clearly communicate complex technical concepts to management, highlighting key issues and risks

  • Implement continuous improvements and best practices within the team, and larger organization

What You’ll Bring
  • Pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field of study with a graduation date between April 2025-December 2026
  • Proficiency in C and real time embedded environments
  • Strong software fundamentals including firmware architecture, algorithm development, data structures, code modularity, and maintainability
  • Experience working with microcontroller peripherals such as timers, ADC, GPIO, PWM, SPI, UART, LIN, I2C, preferred
  • Hands on experience with various motor types (brushed, brushless, steppers) and sensor types (analog, digital encoders), preferred
  • Experience with reading electrical schematics and understanding circuit behavior
  • Familiarity with control loops and PID controllers
Compensation and Benefits
Benefits

As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:
  • Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical 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)
  • LGBTQ+ care concierge services
  • 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
  • Company Paid Basic Life, AD&D, and short-term disability insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Sick time after 90 days of employment 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

$36.06 - $50.48 + 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.

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.