Senior AI Software Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto, CA

Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start August or September 2026 and continue through fall term (ending approximately December 2026) or starting in January continuing into Winter/Spring 2027 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.

Our team puts large neural networks into production for efficient real-time inference on compute-constrained edge devices—CPU, GPU, and Tesla’s custom AI ASIC. You will work at the intersection of machine learning and systems, building the frameworks and infrastructure that train, deploy, and run the networks powering Tesla vehicles and Optimus. The goal is dual: experiment with novel architectures under tight constraints, then ship the production stack that extracts maximum performance-per-watt from Tesla’s edge chips (AI5 and beyond) so Optimus and the vehicle fleet can run state-of-the-art intelligence in real time.

This is not a typical internship. You will own production-critical pieces of the stack that decide how fast, how efficient, and how capable the AI inside every future Tesla and Optimus becomes—working at the exact point where cutting-edge neural nets meet the most demanding real-time, power-constrained silicon on the planet, and helping turn the vision of ubiquitous, high-performance edge intelligence into reality.

• Iterate quantization, compression and distillation techniques to maximize edge inference efficiency
• Build robust, high-performance AI frameworks that lower neural networks onto edge devices with extreme efficiency
• Build and harden the AI infrastructure used to t fine-tune networks for Tesla AI (vehicles + Optimus)
• Co-design state-of-the-art neural networks onto Tesla’s custom AI ASIC, relentlessly driving latency to the absolute minimum
• Push the co-design loop between software and hardware so every circuit on the next-generation edge chips (AI5, AI6, and beyond) is used to its fullest

• Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a relevant field of study with an expected graduation of 2028 or earlier
• Proficiency with PyTorch (or another major machine-learning framework)
• Hands-on experience training and deploying neural networks for real-world AI applications
• Solid understanding of computer systems and computer architecture
• Experience with CUDA
• Python proficiency required; C/C++ is a strong plus but not mandatory

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.