Internship, Software Engineer, Core AI Compiler & Runtime (Spring 2027)

What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start January 2027 and continue through spring term (ending approximately April 2027) or continuing into Summer 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. Our internship program places high-caliber students on teams where their work is visible and critical.

You will design and build the compiler and runtime that power one of the most advanced and widely deployed AI platforms on Earth—running neural networks in millions of Tesla vehicles and Optimus robots. Full control of the hardware means you co-design the software stack to extract maximum performance, latency, and efficiency that generic frameworks cannot reach. Production models directly drive priorities: every optimization you ship immediately enables more capable autonomy, more complex robot behaviors, and higher-throughput data-center inference. This is first-principles systems work at the metal including deleting unnecessary abstractions, inventing high performance APIs and DSLs, and closing the loop between silicon capabilities and real-world AI at an unprecedented scale.

What You'll Do

• Write, debug, and maintain robust compiler and runtime software for Tesla AI inference across FSD, Optimus, and data-center workloads

• Give AI developers direct access to performance-critical hardware features through new APIs and domain-specific languages

• Design compiler and runtime features that enable efficient distributed inference on Tesla hardware

• Integrate the deployment stack with modern ML frameworks (PyTorch, JAX) while keeping the path to silicon as short and efficient as possible

• Analyze and resolve functional and performance issues on massively parallel systems

• Deploy and optimize AI models that run in autonomous vehicles, humanoid robots, and offline inference pipelines where results show up in the real world

What You'll Bring

• Pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a relevant field of study with an expected graduation day 2028 or earlier

• Demonstrated expertise with ML compilers and runtimes (MLIR, LLVM, XLA, PJRT, TensorRT, or equivalent)

• Experience developing domain-specific languages or high-performance programming models (Triton, cuTile, Pallas, or similar).

• Strong familiarity with CPUs, GPUs, and modern AI accelerators

• Deep knowledge of computer architecture, distributed systems, networking, and collectives

• Proficiency in modern C++ and solid systems programming skills

Benefits

As a full-time Tesla Intern, you will be eligible for:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction

• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits

• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans. Both have an option with a $0 payroll contribution

• Company Paid (Health Savings Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Medical Plan with HSA

• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits

• Company Paid Basic Life, AD&D, and short-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions), and Paid Holidays

• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources

• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance

• Commuter benefits

• Employee discounts and perks program

Expected Compensation

$100000.00 - $150000.00 + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.