Firmware Engineer Internships
Firmware engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working with embedded systems and hardware, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Manufacturing, Medical Devices, and Science & Research lead hiring activity, with Tesla, Safe Fleet, and FluxErgy among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 11+ Firmware Engineer Internships
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.
Internship Program at Tesla
The Internship Recruiting Team is driven by the passion to recognize and develop emerging talent. Our year-round program places the best students in positions where they will grow technically, professionally, and personally through their experience working closely with their Manager, Mentor, and team. We provide an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team’s success.
About the team
The New Programs Engineering team works at the front end of the design and development cycle by studying, simulating, building, and proving successful Tesla’s future vehicle concepts. As a Firmware Engineer Intern on the New Programs Engineering team, you will be responsible for developing new technologies and prototyping various concepts for new vehicle designs and features. Come join a very dynamic team of highly knowledgeable engineers that strive to build exciting new vehicle programs.
Locations: Fremont, CA
What You'll Do
- Prototype new vehicle programs. Define system hardware and software interfaces
- Deliver high-quality C code in a real-time embedded environment
- Specify, design, and implement functionality and behaviors of embedded subsystems
- Engage cross-functional discussions with electrical, software, manufacturing, mechanical design, and service teams
- Understand and debug interfaces/interactions required for successful implementation of vehicle level firmware
What You'll Bring
- Currently pursuing a degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or a related field
- Experience in C/C++
- Solid understanding of embedded development and low-level coding
- Ability to collaborate and communicate complex technical concepts
- Must be detail-oriented with an ability to think creatively and produce "outside of the box" solutions
- FSAE, Hyperloop or Solar Racing experience is a plus
- Familiarity with embedded communication protocols is a big plus (such as CAN, LIN, I2C, SPI)
- Experience with RTOS, firmware architecture, device drivers or programming hardware components is a plus
Compensation and 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
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.
Internship Program at Tesla
The Internship Recruiting Team is driven by the passion to recognize and develop emerging talent. Our year-round program places the best students in positions where they will grow technically, professionally, and personally through their experience working closely with their Manager, Mentor, and team. We provide an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team’s success.
About the team
The New Programs Engineering team works at the front end of the design and development cycle by studying, simulating, building, and proving successful Tesla’s future vehicle concepts. As a Firmware Engineer Intern on the New Programs Engineering team, you will be responsible for developing new technologies and prototyping various concepts for new vehicle designs and features. Come join a very dynamic team of highly knowledgeable engineers that strive to build exciting new vehicle programs.
Locations: Fremont, CA
What You'll Do
- Prototype new vehicle programs. Define system hardware and software interfaces
- Deliver high-quality C code in a real-time embedded environment
- Specify, design, and implement functionality and behaviors of embedded subsystems
- Engage cross-functional discussions with electrical, software, manufacturing, mechanical design, and service teams
- Understand and debug interfaces/interactions required for successful implementation of vehicle level firmware
What You'll Bring
- Currently pursuing a degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or a related field
- Experience in C/C++
- Solid understanding of embedded development and low-level coding
- Ability to collaborate and communicate complex technical concepts
- Must be detail-oriented with an ability to think creatively and produce "outside of the box" solutions
- FSAE, Hyperloop or Solar Racing experience is a plus
- Familiarity with embedded communication protocols is a big plus (such as CAN, LIN, I2C, SPI)
- Experience with RTOS, firmware architecture, device drivers or programming hardware components is a plus
Compensation and 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
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.
Firmware Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Medical Devices
- Science & Research
Tips for Your Firmware Engineer Internship Search
Apply in fall for the following summer
Large semiconductor, defense, and consumer electronics employers open summer internship applications in September and October, months before the role starts. If you wait until spring, the structured cohort programs are already closed. Set a calendar reminder at the start of each fall semester and check postings as soon as you return to campus.
Build a public portfolio of embedded projects
Firmware engineer recruiters need something concrete to assess when you have no industry work history. A public code repository showing real microcontroller work, a hardware driver, or a low-level systems project gives them that signal. Document what each project does, which tools and protocols you used, and link it everywhere your application appears.
Work the campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller, off-campus cohorts alongside those efforts widens the pool you reach.
Practice the technical screen before you apply
Firmware engineer intern interviews typically include a coding screen focused on data structures, algorithms, and sometimes low-level systems concepts like memory management or bit manipulation. Practice solving these problems out loud, explaining your reasoning as you go, interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you reach the right answer.
Target structured internship programs at larger employers
Many large semiconductor and electronics companies run formal intern cohorts designed to onboard people new to the field. These programs offer structured mentorship, rotation exposure, and defined return-offer processes, but they recruit early and fill fast. Identify the programs that match your background and apply in the first week openings appear.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 83% of the firmware engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to, relocation for an on-site role, a hybrid schedule, or a fully remote position, before you start applying. Filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate first so you are not sorting through roles you cannot take.
Firmware Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a firmware engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. The concrete artifact that gives recruiters something to assess is a public code repository showing embedded or low-level work: real firmware, a microcontroller project, or a hardware driver you wrote and documented. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a firmware engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for firmware engineer interns is performance on real deliverables, team headcount at the time your internship ends, and how early you signal interest. Position for a return offer by treating every assigned project as a hiring audition, without counting on the offer materializing.
When should I apply for firmware engineer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers, semiconductor companies, defense contractors, and major consumer electronics firms, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check regularly rather than waiting for a single application season.
Are firmware engineer internships paid?
Most professional firmware engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, a large semiconductor firm in Silicon Valley pays differently from a regional manufacturer. Where an employer discloses pay, listings show it. Unpaid internships do exist but are uncommon at technology and engineering companies.
What should a firmware engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools, microcontrollers, or protocols used and link directly to the code repository or write-up, a public GitHub profile showing embedded or systems-level work is the role-specific proof recruiters assess. Add relevant coursework, list languages and toolchains concisely, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote firmware engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 17% of the firmware engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants from anywhere, so apply early. Filter by work type when you start searching so you only see the format you can commit to.
Can international students get firmware 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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