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Car Design Internship (Fall 2022)

Disclaimer: This position is expected to start around August or September 2022 and continue through the entire Fall term (i.e. through December/January) or into early Spring 2023 if available. We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time, for most internships. Please consider before submitting an application. 

International Students: If your work authorization is through CPT, please consult your school before applying. You must be able to work 40 hours per week. Many students will be limited to part-time depending on their academic standing. 

Our Company 
Tesla is accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. We design, manufacture, sell and service the world’s best solar technology, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles, providing customers the opportunity to generate, store and consume energy entirely sustainably. Tesla is committed to hiring and developing top talent from around the world for any given discipline. Based in California, Tesla’s workforce spans across four continents. We work to build an inclusive environment in which all people, regardless of gender, race, religion, or background, can come to do their best work. Our world-class teams operate with a non-conventional philosophy of interdisciplinary collaboration. Each member of the team is expected to challenge and to be challenged, to create, and to innovate. We’re tackling the world’s most difficult and important problems—and we wouldn’t succeed without our shared passion for making the world a better place. 

Internship Programs at Tesla 
The Internship Programs Team is driven by the passion to recognize emerging talent. Our year-round program places the best students in positions that they will grow both technically and personally through their experience working closely with their Manager, Mentor, and team. We are dedicated to providing an experience that allows for the intern to experience life at Tesla by given them projects that are critical to their team’s success. Instead of going on coffee runs and making copies, you’ll be seated at the table making critical decisions that will influence not only your team, but the overall achievement of Tesla’s mission. 

Locations 
Hawthorne, CA 

The Role 
As part of the Tesla Design Team, interns take an active part in live studio projects and work as productive members of the team. Expectations are high and we view our internship program as an evaluation of prospective candidates for future hiring. Using your design experience and innovative thinking, you will be tasked with working with the team to create designs for future cars, but you may also be called upon for other design tasks (graphic design, product design, etc.) based on your skillset. Our design team prides itself on being multitalented and flexible, and we look for the same in potential candidates. Interns will be expected to manage their own time and be drivers of their respective projects. All work will be highly confidential in nature, and may not be shared or distributed outside of the studio. That said, there is typically scope for the intern to do a personal project on the side for use in degree shows and in their portfolios. The nature and content of these personal projects are decided on a case-to-case basis. Interns report to one of our design managers and this position resides in the Design Studio in Hawthorne, California. 

Responsibilities 
 * Develop design proposals for Tesla vehicles, ranging from broad design themes for the entire car all the way to component-level design. 
 * Create compelling sketches that show a vision for the future of Tesla design. 
 * You may have the opportunity to work with the team to guide a design from the sketch phase to concept modeling in Alias or clay, and possibly through to A-class surfacing. 
 * You will also work with engineers to come up with design and engineering solutions and with color and trim designers to create designs that consider the opportunities in CMF. 
 * Participate in non-vehicle design efforts as necessity and your own skillset dictates. 

Skills and Qualifications 
 * Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Transportation Design, Vehicle Design, Automotive Design, or Industrial Design. 
 * Strong ability to work on both exterior and interior design 
 * Technical knowledge of prototyping, manufacturing, and assembly processes as it relates to automobiles is a plus. 
 * High level of skill taking 2D sketches to 3D modeling in poly modeling, Alias and clay. 
 * Excellent at creating and maintaining cross-functional working relationships. 
 * Exceptional visual and oral communication skills. 
 * Must be self-motivated and able to manage multiple parallel-path projects. 
 **All candidates MUST submit a portfolio/personal website to be considered for this position. Do not send portfolios via Dropbox or Google Drive.*