Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto, CA
Mechanical engineer jobs in Palo Alto are concentrated along the California Avenue corridor, in the Stanford Research Park, and in the East Embarcadero district, with steady demand from employers in aerospace hardware, medical devices, semiconductor equipment, and clean energy. Employers hiring right now include Tesla and Lanteris Space Systems Intuitive Machines Company. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Mechanical Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 589+ Mechanical Engineer jobs
Consider before submitting an application:
This position is expected to start January 2027 and continue through the entire Winter/Spring term (i.e through April/May 2026) or into Summer 2027 if available. We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) and on-site, for most internships.
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 during the academic year.
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 are dedicated to providing an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team’s success.
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Tesla Energy is looking for a highly motivated engineer to perform and drive mechanical and enclosure design activities for its utility scale energy storage and supercharging products. The role entails strong fundamentals, a passion to push the boundaries of technology and the tenacity to make your designs successful. Tesla operates under compressed timelines, so being self-motivated, disciplined, and resilient is critical. We aim to recruit the most talented engineers to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
What You'll Do
- Modeling and design of mechanical components and assemblies including sheet metal, structural metals, plastics, environmental sealing materials, fasteners, and other components
- Mechanical design analysis including structural finite element analysis, design for assembly, design for manufacturing, and design for test
- Work with cross-functional teams to refine specifications and achieve product performance, aesthetic, schedule, cost, reliability, and quality targets
- Collaborate with thermal, systems, electrical, sourcing, manufacturing, and reliability teams to take designs from prototype through mass production
- Develop engineering test plans for designs
- Assist in engineering prototype builds and component fabrication
- Root cause and solve test failures and production problems
- Create high quality drawing packages and manufacturing instructions for parts and assemblies
What You'll Bring
- Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
- Experience designing for high-volume assembly and manufacturing
- Experience designing products for outdoor environments, including IP/NEMA environmental seals
- Strong engineering fundamentals in mechanics, heat transfer, and fluids
- Experience with various manufacturing processes such as metal stamping, extruding, welding/brazing, plating, heat treating, plastic injection molding, thermoforming, and bonding
- Experience in designing for high volume assembly, both manual and automated
- Proficiency in CAD modeling. CATIA V5/V6 experience, a plus
- Experience designing packaging solutions for battery or power electronics systems
- Structural analysis expertise, static and frequency response spectrum FEA experience
- Knowledge of electrical principles and their application in renewable energy systems
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
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 January 2027 and continue through the entire Winter/Spring term (i.e through April/May 2026) or into Summer 2027 if available. We ask for a minimum of 12 weeks, full-time (40 hours/week) and on-site, for most internships.
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 during the academic year.
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 are dedicated to providing an experience that allows the intern to experience life at Tesla by including them in projects that are critical to their team’s success.
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Tesla Energy is looking for a highly motivated engineer to perform and drive mechanical and enclosure design activities for its utility scale energy storage and supercharging products. The role entails strong fundamentals, a passion to push the boundaries of technology and the tenacity to make your designs successful. Tesla operates under compressed timelines, so being self-motivated, disciplined, and resilient is critical. We aim to recruit the most talented engineers to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
What You'll Do
- Modeling and design of mechanical components and assemblies including sheet metal, structural metals, plastics, environmental sealing materials, fasteners, and other components
- Mechanical design analysis including structural finite element analysis, design for assembly, design for manufacturing, and design for test
- Work with cross-functional teams to refine specifications and achieve product performance, aesthetic, schedule, cost, reliability, and quality targets
- Collaborate with thermal, systems, electrical, sourcing, manufacturing, and reliability teams to take designs from prototype through mass production
- Develop engineering test plans for designs
- Assist in engineering prototype builds and component fabrication
- Root cause and solve test failures and production problems
- Create high quality drawing packages and manufacturing instructions for parts and assemblies
What You'll Bring
- Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
- Experience designing for high-volume assembly and manufacturing
- Experience designing products for outdoor environments, including IP/NEMA environmental seals
- Strong engineering fundamentals in mechanics, heat transfer, and fluids
- Experience with various manufacturing processes such as metal stamping, extruding, welding/brazing, plating, heat treating, plastic injection molding, thermoforming, and bonding
- Experience in designing for high volume assembly, both manual and automated
- Proficiency in CAD modeling. CATIA V5/V6 experience, a plus
- Experience designing packaging solutions for battery or power electronics systems
- Structural analysis expertise, static and frequency response spectrum FEA experience
- Knowledge of electrical principles and their application in renewable energy systems
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
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.
See All 589+ Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto
Find roles in Palo Alto that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mechanical Engineer JobsMechanical Engineer Job Market in Palo Alto
Who's Hiring
Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a mechanical engineer job in Palo Alto?
Focus your search on the Stanford Research Park and California Avenue corridor, where hardware startups, medical device firms, and semiconductor equipment companies cluster. Employers in Palo Alto tend to favor candidates with hands-on prototyping experience and familiarity with CAD platforms like SolidWorks or CATIA. Referrals carry significant weight here, so attending Bay Area engineering meetups and tapping Stanford alumni networks can give you a real edge over remote applicants.
Which companies hire mechanical engineers in Palo Alto?
Employers hiring mechanical engineers in Palo Alto right now include Tesla and Lanteris Space Systems Intuitive Machines Company, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Palo Alto's employer mix skews toward deep-tech hardware companies, medical device developers, and defense contractors with engineering offices near the Stanford Research Park.
How can I get a mechanical engineer job in Palo Alto with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Palo Alto is through a co-op or internship at one of the Stanford Research Park companies, many of which convert strong interns to full-time hires. Look for roles titled junior mechanical engineer, mechanical design associate, or test equipment technician at medical device and cleantech firms, which tend to have more structured entry-level pipelines than early-stage hardware startups. Building a portfolio of CAD models and any hands-on fabrication projects will differentiate you among candidates who only have coursework to show.
Related Jobs in California
See All 589+ Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto
Find roles in Palo Alto that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mechanical Engineer Jobs