Internship, Validation Infrastructure Developer, Vehicle Firmware (Winter/Spring 2025)

Tesla is seeking a Validation Infrastructure Developer Intern for their Vehicle Firmware team for Winter/Spring 2025. This internship is part of Tesla's year-round program that places top students in positions where they can grow both technically and personally.

The role is within the validation infrastructure team, which focuses on providing developers with increasing insight into their code. The intern will work on solving how to test code running on in-vehicle microcontrollers in a scalable and time-sensitive manner. This involves using FPGAs, automation clusters, and custom-built embedded Linux regression boards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Creating and developing VHDL code for peripheral development and vehicle modeling
• Interfacing with low-level microcontroller peripherals (JTAG, CAN, I2C)
• Bringing up and debugging new PCBs for processor-in-the-loop testers
• Building automation pipelines for deploying and managing variants
• Utilizing and debugging embedded Linux setups for running tests
• Deploying scalable solutions with a focus on first principles understanding

The ideal candidate should have:

• A degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field (graduating between April 2025-December 2026)
• Experience with VHDL
• Strong hands-on coding experience in Rust, C, or Python
• Embedded development experience
• Low-level development on microcontrollers or Linux kernel experience
• Experience with hardware bring-up and build systems
• Knowledge of physics, mechanical, and electrical systems for software development

This internship offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k), stock purchase plans, and various other perks. The internship is full-time (40 hours/week) for a minimum of 12 weeks, starting in January and continuing through April/May. It is an in-person position located in Palo Alto, California.

Tesla is committed to diversity, equal opportunity, and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. They prioritize privacy and build it into their products and business practices.