Internship, Product Security Engineer (Summer 2027)

InternHunt; Palo Alto, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental & Vision

401(k) & ESPP

HSA Contribution

Paid Holidays

Vacation / Flex time

Employee discounts

Job summary

Tesla in Palo Alto invites a Summer 2027 Internship for a Product Security Engineer. The role starts May/June 2027 and runs through August 2027, requiring on-site, full-time (40 hours/week) with a minimum of 12 weeks for actively enrolled students.

As an intern you will analyze system services, OS, networks and applications from a security perspective, perform vulnerability testing and risk assessments, and drive remediation with teams and external partners.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a CS degree with graduation between Fall 2027 and Spring 2028.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Experience with security concepts and vulnerability analysis.

Responsibilities

• Analyze system services, operating systems, networks and applications from a security perspective.
• Discover security issues and recommend patches.
• Participate in security audits, risk analysis, vulnerability testing and reviews.
• Assist in remediation with Tesla teams and external partners.

Skills

Go

Rust

C

C++

x86

ARM

cryptography

exploit development

CTF

secure code review

Education

Currently pursuing Computer Science or related field with graduation Fall 2027 - Spring 2028

Tools

Linux

Job description

Internship, Product Security Engineer (Summer 2027)

2026-10-01

Role Description

What to Expect

Consider before submitting an application:

This position is expected to start May or June 2027 and continue through summer term (ending approximately August 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

We are looking for a highly motivated student with a strong interest in security to work on Tesla products and future R&D projects. Tesla is building robots that live in the physical world - first on four wheels, now on two legs. As our attack surface grows and these machines assume more physical responsibility, the integrity of the underlying software has never mattered more. A vulnerability at the lowest layers of the system can give an attacker persistent control over the car itself - not just data. It's sort of like giving an outsider the remote to a machine that’s already out in traffic. The Product Security team identifies & patches these gaps before they can be exploited, combining offensive audits, defensive hardening, and novel controls to keep platforms secure. Their work ensures the software behind Tesla's autonomy ambitions remains trustworthy as our systems grow more capable.

As an intern on the team, you will be expected to analyze system services, operating systems, networks and applications from a security perspective. You will be involved in discovering security issues and recommending patches. You will participate in security audits, risk analysis, vulnerability testing and security reviews.

What You'll Do

• Help ensure Tesla's products are implemented to a high security standard
• Work with teams to implement, identify and advance security at Tesla
• Conduct vulnerability tests and risk assessments in source code and on Linux devices
• Work with Tesla teams and external suppliers to drive remediation
• Audit embedded code to identify security vulnerabilities
• Work with vendors, partners, and other Tesla teams to drive remediation
• Conduct risk assessments to prioritize threats and compare mitigation strategies
• This is not a Red Team role and you will not do pentesting

What You'll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science or a related field of study with a graduation date between Fall 2027 - Spring 2028
• Strong investigative and analytical problem-solving skills
• Experience with one or more of the following is required: CTF, secure architecture design, writing secure source code
• Deep understanding of fuzzing, static analysis, sandboxing, and defending against common vulnerabilities
• Technical experience with one or more of the following: Go, Rust, C, C++, x86, ARM, CAN, cryptography, exploit development
• Proficiency in software development, auditing code and features
• Automotive & hardware experience a plus but not required

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
• 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 / Aff…

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.