Distribution Engineer Internships
Distribution engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in supply chain operations and logistics systems, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. {{top_industries_phrase}} lead in internship volume, with Sargent & Lundy, Bosch, and Tesla among the employers posting roles now.
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Consider before submitting an application:
This position is expected to start around January 2027 and continue through the entire Spring term (ending approximately May 2027 or later, if available). 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.
About the Team:
The Low Voltage Power Firmware Team is responsible for power distribution and LV power efficiency on all vehicle platforms. As an engineer on this team, you will architect and implement firmware validation infrastructure, equipment, automation, tooling, and procedures to efficiently test vehicle components and subsystems. This includes, but is not limited to, LV power redundancy and latent fault detection for by-wire and autonomous vehicles, vehicle fault and crash behaviors, power management for over-the-air updates (OTAs), and low / idle power modes and sleep features.
You will work closely with development and integration engineers to design and validate the performance capabilities of our hardware and firmware to ensure code quality is high. Your effort to create and equip the firmware organization with automated validation infrastructure will have a direct impact on the safety, reliability, robustness, and value of our products. Your impact will accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
What You'll Do
- Development of discrete simulation software including the modeling of circuitry, hardware peripherals, and emulation of bare-metal drivers. (Python, Rust, C, Docker, Scons)
- Design of automated component- PIL (processor-in-the-loop) testers for validation of power domain fault detection and power availability on steer-by-wire and autonomous platforms (Python, Jenkins)
- Collaborate with development and integration engineers to design robust, automated test strategies to meet safety and homologation requirements. Leverage a deep understanding of vehicle system behaviors to evaluate code and functional changes holistically, mitigate risk, and provide high-quality feedback throughout the product lifecycle
- Drive innovation, quality and performance of vehicle software by pioneering novel validation infrastructure and tooling, and by enhancing simulation engine fidelity and user experience
- Scale existing validation coverage and optimize build efficiency to leverage cluster computing resources
- Explore methods to measure and metrics to evaluate the quality, coverage, and traceability of automated regression tests
What You'll Bring
- Currently pursuing a degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field of study with a graduation date between May 2027 - May 2028
- Proficiency in Python and comprehension of C
- Experience with Rust preferred
- Experience in electronic and system schematic design & capture (Altium Designer) preferred
- Experience designing or interfacing with Hardware/Software-in-the-loop (HIL/SIL) test setups preferred
- Desire to participate in improving code robustness and designing testing infrastructure
- Knowledge of source control (Git) and continuous integration (Jenkins) preferred
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and hardware datasheets
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
- Earned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)
Expected Compensation
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.
Consider before submitting an application:
This position is expected to start around January 2027 and continue through the entire Spring term (ending approximately May 2027 or later, if available). 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.
About the Team:
The Low Voltage Power Firmware Team is responsible for power distribution and LV power efficiency on all vehicle platforms. As an engineer on this team, you will architect and implement firmware validation infrastructure, equipment, automation, tooling, and procedures to efficiently test vehicle components and subsystems. This includes, but is not limited to, LV power redundancy and latent fault detection for by-wire and autonomous vehicles, vehicle fault and crash behaviors, power management for over-the-air updates (OTAs), and low / idle power modes and sleep features.
You will work closely with development and integration engineers to design and validate the performance capabilities of our hardware and firmware to ensure code quality is high. Your effort to create and equip the firmware organization with automated validation infrastructure will have a direct impact on the safety, reliability, robustness, and value of our products. Your impact will accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
What You'll Do
- Development of discrete simulation software including the modeling of circuitry, hardware peripherals, and emulation of bare-metal drivers. (Python, Rust, C, Docker, Scons)
- Design of automated component- PIL (processor-in-the-loop) testers for validation of power domain fault detection and power availability on steer-by-wire and autonomous platforms (Python, Jenkins)
- Collaborate with development and integration engineers to design robust, automated test strategies to meet safety and homologation requirements. Leverage a deep understanding of vehicle system behaviors to evaluate code and functional changes holistically, mitigate risk, and provide high-quality feedback throughout the product lifecycle
- Drive innovation, quality and performance of vehicle software by pioneering novel validation infrastructure and tooling, and by enhancing simulation engine fidelity and user experience
- Scale existing validation coverage and optimize build efficiency to leverage cluster computing resources
- Explore methods to measure and metrics to evaluate the quality, coverage, and traceability of automated regression tests
What You'll Bring
- Currently pursuing a degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field of study with a graduation date between May 2027 - May 2028
- Proficiency in Python and comprehension of C
- Experience with Rust preferred
- Experience in electronic and system schematic design & capture (Altium Designer) preferred
- Experience designing or interfacing with Hardware/Software-in-the-loop (HIL/SIL) test setups preferred
- Desire to participate in improving code robustness and designing testing infrastructure
- Knowledge of source control (Git) and continuous integration (Jenkins) preferred
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and hardware datasheets
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
- Earned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)
Expected Compensation
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.
Distribution Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Sargent & Lundy16
- Bosch1
- Tesla1
- WEC Energy1
- ENERCON SERVICES1
Tips for Your Distribution Engineer Internship Search
Apply months before the internship starts
Large employers in manufacturing, utilities, and logistics close their summer distribution engineer internship cohorts as early as October or November the year before. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check consistently year-round rather than waiting for a single recruiting season.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams expect limited work history at the intern level, so give recruiters something concrete to review. Document two or three projects with the tools you used, AutoCAD facility layouts, network optimization models, warehouse simulation outputs, or operations research coursework, and make them accessible via a link or PDF you can attach to every application.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and reduces your dependence on any single channel.
Practice your technical screen out loud before the first interview
Distribution engineer intern screens typically include quantitative problem-solving, process analysis cases, or questions on logistics and supply chain fundamentals. Practice talking through your reasoning out loud, not just arriving at an answer, because interviewers weight how you approach a problem as much as the final result.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Larger employers in distribution and supply chain operations run cohort or rotational internship programs designed to train people new to the field. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and often convert interns to full-time roles at higher rates than ad-hoc hiring. Identify the programs that fit your background and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 0% of the distribution engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before you start sorting through listings, then filter by location and work type so you spend your time on roles you can actually accept.
Distribution Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a distribution engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. Build a portfolio that includes documented process-improvement or logistics projects showing the tools you used, such as AutoCAD layouts, network optimization models, or warehouse simulation outputs, so recruiters have something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a distribution engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for distribution engineer interns is performance on real project deliverables, available headcount on the team at the end of the internship, and whether the employer runs a formal return-offer process. Position for one by owning your project outcomes and communicating with your manager, without counting on it.
When should I apply for distribution engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers in manufacturing, logistics, and utilities recruit summer distribution engineer interns the preceding fall, with applications closing as early as October or November. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Set up alerts and check regularly rather than waiting for a single seasonal push.
Are distribution engineer internships paid?
Most professional distribution engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and some positions also include housing stipends or relocation assistance. Listings show compensation details where the employer discloses them, so you can compare offers as you apply.
What should a distribution engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects with the tools you used and links to the work where possible, for distribution engineer candidates that means AutoCAD or layout files, simulation models, or case studies showing a supply chain or facility optimization. Add relevant coursework in logistics, operations research, or industrial engineering, and keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote distribution engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 100% of the distribution engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get distribution engineer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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