Internship, Software Engineer Opticaster, Energy Engineering; Fall

What To Expect

This position is expected to start August or September 2026 and continue through the fall term (ending approximately December 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.

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.

Optic aster’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy by optimizing how batteries are charged and discharged to maximize value for customers and the grid. Our software powers Tesla’s energy products, including Megapacks, Powerwalls, Virtual Power Plants, and microgrids, ensuring they operate efficiently at scale.

As an intern on the Optic aster team, you will focus on developing and maintaining software systems that support real‑time energy management. You will work alongside experienced engineers to build energy storage optimization models, develop monitoring tools to ensure system reliability, and improve the scalability of our software infrastructure. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands‑on experience with real‑world energy systems and cutting‑edge technologies that enhance grid stability and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy.

• Develop and maintain scalable software solutions for energy storage optimization, ensuring reliable performance in production.
• Design and implement features that improve customer experience and engagement.
• Build and enhance cloud‑based tools to analyze system performance and monitor our global fleet.
• Contribute to the development of simulation and testing frameworks to validate algorithm effectiveness.
• Identify and address performance bottlenecks related to infrastructure, computation, and memory efficiency.
• Apply data science and machine learning techniques to improve forecasting and decision‑making.

• Pursuing a degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• Proficiency in Python or other relevant programming languages, with experience in Linux environments and Git.
• Familiarity with cloud computing and big data technologies such as AWS, Spark, Airflow, or Kubernetes.
• Experience with software development and an interest in deploying code to production environments.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to work in a fast‑paced team environment.
• Passion for renewable energy and energy storage, with a bonus for prior experience in the field.
• Experience with machine learning techniques, particularly in time series forecasting or optimization.

As a full‑time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for the following:

• Medical plans with various options and $0 payroll deduction.
• Family‑building, fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits.
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both with $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).
• 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits.
• Company‑paid Basic Life, AD&D, and short‑term disability insurance (90‑day waiting period).
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Sick and vacation time (flex time for salary positions), and paid holidays.
• Back‑up childcare and parenting support resources.
• Voluntary benefits such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance.
• Commuter benefits.
• Employee discounts and perks program.

Expected Compensation: $20.00 - $50.00 per hour + benefits. Pay may vary depending on location, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. Total compensation 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.