Internship, C++ Software Engineer, Systems, AI (Winter/Spring 2026)
About this internship
Tesla is hiring an on-site C++ Software Engineer Intern (Systems, AI) in Palo Alto, CA for Winter/Spring 2026. This internship typically involves contributing to systems and AI-related software using modern C++ (C++14/17/20) in an automotive and electric vehicle environment. You should be pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Physics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with an expected graduation date between 2026 and 2027. The listed salary range is $100,000–$150,000 per year.
Qualifications
Required
- Experience programming C/C++ software, including modern C/C++ (C++14/17/20)
- Pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Physics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related fields with a graduation date between 2026-2027
Nice to have
- Comfort writing clean, readable C/C++ code and explaining design decisions in a collaborative setting.
- Experience using modern C++ features (C++14/17/20) to build maintainable systems-level components.
- Familiarity with debugging and profiling approaches for C/C++ programs to identify performance or correctness issues.
- Ability to work with large, existing codebases and make incremental improvements with careful testing.
- Strong fundamentals in computer science or engineering topics relevant to systems work (e.g., data structures, concurrency concepts, or low-level performance considerations).
How to stand out (TUN tip)
In your application, explicitly note which C++ standards you’ve used (C++14/17/20) and briefly describe one or two projects where you built or optimized C/C++ software. If you have relevant coursework or labs from your CS/EE/CE/Physics program, include them and make sure your expected graduation date (2026–2027) is easy to find.