Internship, Software Integration Engineer, Battery Management Systems (fall 2026)

Tesla Tesla · Auto · PALO ALTO, CA · Vehicle Software

Internship role focused on software integration for Tesla's Battery Management Systems (BMS), ensuring firmware support for new features and hardware. Responsibilities include defining requirements, driving implementation and testing, analyzing failure modes, developing validation strategies, and debugging system-level issues. Requires a degree in Mechatronics, Electrical, or Computer Engineering, with hands-on experience in debugging complex systems and proficiency in C/C++.

What you'd actually do

  1. Work with the design and development engineers throughout the engineering organization to ensure the relevant subsystems are designed with appropriate requirements, interfaces and interactions to achieve specific vehicle functions
  2. Break down new, high-level feature requests into sub-system and component level requirements, and drive the implementation, testing and release of these features against Tesla’s firmware release schedule
  3. Utilize critical analysis of potential failure modes and effects to influence these requirements
  4. Develop overall validation strategy for these features and work with validation teams to ensure automated test coverage is implemented for future firmware releases
  5. Work cross-functionally across mechanical, electrical, system architecture, firmware development and firmware validation teams to understand new component-level hardware changes which are being developed and how to support them in firmware – both in manufacturing and for customer use – so that they can be seamlessly introduced to our vehicle platforms

Skills

Required

  • Currently pursuing a degree in Mechatronics, Electrical, Computer Engineering, or a related field of study with a graduation date between December 2026 – December 2027
  • Hands-on technical experience debugging complex systems involving networked microprocessors and software-controlled electrical or electromechanical devices
  • Experience with C or C++ required
  • Thorough understanding of mechanical fundamentals - and ability to apply them to automotive concepts
  • Ability to read and understand electrical schematics

Nice to have

  • Python is a plus
  • Experience with CAN and Ethernet networking is a plus
  • Experience with Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment (HARA) is a plus

What the JD emphasized

  • firmware support for new battery management features
  • new hardware are designed, implemented, and tested
  • performance of algorithms that predict available power and energy
  • functions that ensure optimal charging, effective thermal management and high voltage safety monitoring
  • critical analysis of potential failure modes and effects
  • Develop overall validation strategy
  • automated test coverage
  • firmware integration test plans
  • rapidly retire risk
  • accelerate our aggressive development cycles
  • identify and debug issues at the system level
  • robust solutions
  • ensure the function(s) are rolled out and functioning properly
  • root-cause diagnosis for product issues
  • prototype test setups
  • Hands-on technical experience debugging complex systems involving networked microprocessors and software-controlled electrical or electromechanical devices
  • Experience with C or C++ required
  • Thorough understanding of mechanical fundamentals
  • Ability to read and understand electrical schematics