Internship, CMF Design, Design Studio (Summer 2026)

Tesla•Hawthorne, CA

2d•$20 - $50•Onsite

About The Position

Interns within the Color, Material and Finish (CMF) Design Team will support the design, development and production of current and future vehicles as well as related products. Your scope of work will be a combination of creative design, research, program management, material sourcing and organization as it relates to the current requirements of the team. This includes trend and material research, visual mood boards and storytelling creation, development of CMF strategy, and executing final color, materials, and finishes for production.

Requirements

Currently working towards a degree in Color and Material Design, Transportation Design, Industrial Design, or Textile Design, or related field
Strong background and/or interest in Automotive Color, Material and Finish Design Exceptional visual, communication, and presentation skills
Proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Microsoft Office
Strong problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to learn concepts quickly
Demonstrated ability to deliver results on difficult projects with tight deadlines

Nice To Haves

3D software knowledge and rendering skills are preferred but not required
Hands-on experience, previous internship and/or project experience is preferred

Responsibilities

Ideate, visualize, and develop design proposals for colors, materials, and finishes for designs
Create digital and physical CMF presentations that show a future vision for Tesla designs
Collaborate and strategize with cross functional teams, including design and manufacturing, to implement production of final CMF designs and related assets
Develop and master color, materials, and finishes for all vehicle exterior and interior surfaces
Support CMF Design release process and documentation
Support the program management of all ongoing projects
Establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and vendors. This includes independent research to identify new resources, materials and technologies, and obtain samples to organize and maintain in the CMF materials library
Support visual material evaluation and color measurement activities

Benefits

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