Internship, Aerodynamics, Thermal Engineering; Summer

Position: Internship, Aerodynamics, Thermal Engineering (Summer 2026)
What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start May 2026 and continue through summer term (ending approximately August 2026 or later, if available). We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) and on-site, for most internships. Our internship program is for students who are actively enrolled in an academic program. Recent graduates seeking employment after graduation and not returning to school should apply for full-time positions, not 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.

Internship Program at Tesla

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 provide an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team's success.

About the Team

Thermal Engineering is the team behind the Tesla Supermanifold, Octovalve, Superbottle, Airwave, Heat Pump, Bioweapon Defense Mode and more. Our multi-disciplinary team of mechanical, manufacturing, electrical, aerodynamics, thermal, and analytics engineers work together across all phases of development from idea inception, through prototyping, production, and fleet support.  The team is responsible for system level thermal architecture of radiators, heat exchangers, compressors, fans, pumps, and blowers which facilitate heating and cooling of the HV battery, powertrain, and cabin across all Tesla vehicles.

We are seeking technically qualified and highly motivated engineers in the fields of Aerodynamics and Thermal Engineering who are interested in both high-level system layout as well as detailed fluid dynamics of complex fluid systems.  Engineers will be responsible for developing efficient, quiet, and innovative fluid distribution systems for air, coolant, and refrigerant with application in human thermal comfort, particulate and gas filtration, aeroacoustics, water management, and heat transfer. 

Qualified individual will collaborate with a cross-functional team of engineers to deliver innovative, best-in-class components and systems with optimum efficiency, performance, reliability, cost, and safety.

At Tesla you will get training, mentorship, resources, and opportunities to drive meaningful projects that raise the bar for electric vehicles and build your career. Come join our team and help accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy!

Location:

Fremont, CA

What You'll Do

* Design, build, and conduct hands on experiments with HVAC and refrigeration components and system prototypes

* 1D modeling and CFD simulation (single phase and multiphase) of thermal components such as heat exchangers, compressors, pumps, blowers, flow distribution and power electronics

* Development and validation of thermal and fluid models for hardware and controls optimization

What You'll Bring

* Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field

* First-principles physics understanding of multiple engineering disciplines such as heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and electrical fundamentals

* Experience designing/testing/characterizing refrigeration components and systems

* Experience with developing refrigeration component and system numerical models

* Experience with electronics cooling

* Proficiency in numerical simulation of heat and fluid flow (STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent, FloTHERM, Ansys Icepak)

Compensation and Benefits

Benefits

As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:

* Medical plans  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…