Cell Abuse Testing Engineer Internship, Powertrain Engineering Europe (m/w/d)

Description

The Abuse Test team is seeking a highly motivated intern to support validation and testing of next-generation cells and batteries. You will focus on hands-on cell abuse testing and design of test equipment. You will work closely with senior engineers to execute complex abuse tests, build fixtures, and analyze data in a fast-paced environment. At Tesla, scope and complexity of your assignments are limited by your aptitude, not seniority or title.

Responsibilities

Gain experience in cross-disciplinary teams by applying first-principles thinking to analyze heat and mass transfer in cell abuse testing, and use this knowledge to design, set up, and improve test equipment

Support the execution of cell abuse tests using specialized equipment, test chambers, and data loggers according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Process raw test data to help draw meaningful conclusions and assist in preparing high-quality reports for internal technical teams

Participate in destructive teardowns for root-cause analysis, meticulously documenting findings and observations

Gain exposure to and learn about full battery pack testing methodologies.

Collaborate with test technicians to achieve test objectives.

Contribute to organizational tasks & responsibilities like creation & maintenance of procedures, SOPs, standards, equipment, inspections, lab commissioning, facilities, maintenance and staff trainings.

Acquire knowledge about relevant industry standards, testing guidelines, and norms.

Tasks require work with hazardous materials using mandated PPE and to set up and perform tests in person and in lab environments.

Tasks require working with high-voltage (live batteries) and other hazardous energy using mandated PPE and procedures.

25% travel to test locations is expected if required for the project.

Other tasks as required.

Requirements

• Pursuing a degree in a relevant field (Mechanical, Electrical, Automotive, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or similar).
• 3D Design/CAD skills and creation of fundamental wiring and hydraulics diagrams are required.
• Foundational understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, or combustion reactions, and an interest in connecting these to cell abuse behavior.
• A strong hands-on mindset with experience or keen interest in building, assembling, and troubleshooting mechanical or electrical equipment
• Initial experience in MATLAB/Python or other software for data processing is required.
• Fluency in English; German is a plus.
• Analytical and problem-solving oriented mindset.
• A proactive, safety-first attitude with the ability to work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced lab environment.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work independently in a safely critical environment.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Initial experience in an OEM or equipment/machine manufacturer is a plus
• Experience with Labview and Data acquisition systems is a plus
• Experience with PIDs is a plus
• Project management experience or foundations are a plus