Internship, Actuator Geartrain Mechanical Engineer, Optimus (Fall 2026)

Consider before submitting an application: This position is expected to start August or September 2026 and continue through summer term (ending approximately December 2026) or continuing into Winter/Spring 2027 if available and there is an opportunity to do so. 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 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. During your internship at Tesla, you will be working on groundbreaking manufacturing process technology that goes into gearboxes of the Tesla bot Optimus. You will work with a variety of teams developing the next generation of actuators including prototyping & testing. This includes design of tooling and fixtures that are used in manufacturing processes of geartrains as well as mathematical modelling and simulation of manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

Mechanical design of tooling and fixtures that are used in manufacturing processes of gearboxes Development of new manufacturing cells in R&D environment Development of concept processes to be used in R&D environment Testing and qualifying manufacturing process setups and inspection of components Building of assemblies for process development and validating them Prototyping & testing

Requirements

Currently pursuing a degree in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics or a related field with a graduation date between 2026 - 2027 Strong engineering fundamentals and ability to perform first-principles analysis to ensure a successful design (stress-strain, thermal, tolerance, cost and mass optimization, etc.) Excellent CAD skills in (CATIA or Solidworks) Programming skills in Matlab/Simulink and/or Python are preferred Hands on actuator and component (motor, gear, sensors) testing is preferred Experience in physical testing and analysis of mechanical, electrical, and electrotechnical systems Experience in dynamometer testing and equipment (torque transducers, power analyzers, oscilloscopes, etc.) Working understanding of servo control (torque, speed, and position control) Basic fabrication, machining, wiring, general electronics, debugging, and parts chasing