I applied online via the Tesla careers page and was contacted by recruiting a short time later.

First step was an email with some “hard criteria” questions (availability, 6-month full-time internship, enrollment status, start date, etc.). After I replied, I had an online interview.

The interview itself was professional and friendly. We talked about my background in mechanical/electrical design, EV/high-voltage topics, CAD skills, and some basic questions on mechanics, materials, and DFM/DFA. They also asked about how I approach problems, how I work in teams, and why I wanted to join the High Voltage Distribution team.

Technically, I felt the fit was good and the conversation went well. However, in the end I was rejected because my German language skills were not strong enough for what they needed in that team. This was communicated politely, but it’s important to mention: even for an internship, German fluency can be a deciding factor, depending on the team and role.

What CAD tools have you used, and what kind of models/drawings have you created with them?

Imagine you need to route a high-voltage wiring harness through a tight area. What would you consider to avoid issues like chafing, bending, thermal, or vibration problems?