Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Chemical Operator Intern - Cathode Materials

Machine & Process OperationPosted on Nov 4

Internship · Fall 2026Austin, TX, USA

About the Job

Requirements

Demonstrate experience or knowledge as a safe and proficient Chemical Operator in a 24/7 continuous refinery environment.
Be a student of Delmar College in the Process Technology Program, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.9, and have completed between 30 and 60 semester credit hours.
Temporarily relocate to the Austin, Texas area, arrange housing, and have reliable transportation; relocation and housing assistance is offered.
Have a valid driver's license.
Have command of English, both written and verbal.
Perform physically demanding work for extended periods, up to 12 hours a day.
Stand and walk for up to 12 hours a day, including over varied and uneven terrain.
Climb stairs, stand for extended periods, and safely lift up to 50 pounds.
Frequently and repetitively bend, lift, and reach.
Stoop, lie, bend, reach, squat, kneel, crouch, twist, and crawl for extended periods, including up to 12 hours a day.
Climb and maintain balance on ladders, scaffolding, or other high structures.
Identify issues in a work process and receive safety signals using sight, touch, or hearing.
Wear personal protective equipment, including PAPR, safety glasses, safety shoes, and bump caps, and adhere to prescribed safety rules and guidelines.

Responsibilities

Communicate with team members about safety, equipment status, production, quality, and operational issues using detailed written and electronic notes.
Operate equipment according to safety, quality, environmental, and efficiency standards by following written and verbal work instructions.
Write and follow procedures to safely commission, operate, clear, start up, shut down, and lock out chemical manufacturing equipment.
Provide an initial response to unplanned events to minimize impacts to personnel, the environment, and equipment.
Use equipment and instrumentation to monitor and record pressure, temperature, and other process conditions.
Complete facility-wide and area-specific training programs to obtain certification to independently operate the plant and issue permits for maintenance work.
Perform quality-control testing, product packaging, and loading and unloading of finished goods and raw materials.
Perform quality-control sampling, equipment monitoring, and troubleshooting.
Conduct field and control-room chemical unit operations to safely run process systems and associated equipment during the shift, and provide data to senior operators.

Category	Manufacturing
Location	Austin, Texas
Requisition ID	286718
Type	Intern/Apprentice

Job Description

Tesla’s in-house Cathode Manufacturing Facility is located in Austin Texas. This investment is critical to our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy and represents our efforts to increase the supply of cathode in North America. Chemical Operator Interns work on a commissioning-based schedule, focusing on field and control room chemical unit operations for safely running process systems and associated equipment during their shift, and provide data to senior operators. Candidates must have a strong work ethic, be safety conscious, display attention to detail, be adaptable, work with minimal direction, have good communication skills and be able to work in a team-based environment. The successful candidate will safely and efficiently operate equipment necessary. This position is responsible for performing quality control testing, product packaging and loading/unloading finished goods and raw material.  We are seeking multiple  Chemical Operator Interns to join our team and help further our mission. This position involves quality control sampling, equipment monitoring, troubleshooting, and loading/unloading finished goods and raw materials. Chemical Operators will be focusing on field and control room chemical unit operations to safely run process systems and associated equipment during their shift.  Students selected for the program will temporarily pause their academic coursework to participate in a full-time, up to 16-week internship during the Fall 2026 semester.  This internship provides students with hands-on experience in Tesla’s high-tech, fast-paced industrial environment.  This will be a Monday through Friday position for 8 hours a day.

Job Responsibilities

Communicate with team members regarding safety, equipment status, production, quality, and operational issues using detailed written and electronic notes
Operate equipment in accordance with all safety, quality, environmental and efficiency standards by following written and verbal work instructions
Write and follow procedures to safely commission, operate, clear, startup, shut down, and Lock Out chemical manufacturing equipment safely and efficiently
Provide initial response to unplanned events to minimize the impact to personnel, the environment, and equipment
Use equipment and instrumentation to monitor and record pressure, temperature, and other process conditions
Complete facility-wide and area specific training programs to obtain certification to independently operate the plant and issue permits for maintenance work

Job Requirements

Ability to demonstrate experience or knowledge as a safe and proficient Chemical Operator in a 24/7 continuous refinery environment
Must be a student of Delmar College and in the Process Technology Program. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.9 and have completed between 30 and 60 semester credit hours
Selected Delmar Students for this Internship will be required to temporarily relocate to Austin, TX area, find housing and have reliable transportation, relocation and housing assistance is offered
Must have a valid drivers license
Transcripts will be requested
Must have command of the English language, both written and verbal

Essential Physical Demands

Ability to perform physically demanding work for extended periods of time, up to 12 hours a day
Ability to stand and walk for up to 12 hours a day, including over varied and uneven terrain
Climb stairs, stand for extended periods of time, and safely lift up to 50 pounds
Frequently and repetitively, bend, lift and reach
Stoop, lay, bend, reach, squat, kneel, crouch, twist and crawl for extended periods of time, including up to 12 hours a day
Climb and maintain balance on ladders, scaffolding or other high structures
Ability to find issues in a work process and receive safety signals using sight, touch, or hearing
Wearing Personal Protective Equipment, including but not limited to: PAPR, safety glasses, safety shoes, bump caps, and adhering to prescribed safety rules and guidelines

About the Company

Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Tesla makes electric cars and batteries that store power for homes and utilities, and it develops self-driving software and humanoid robots. In 2023, its Model Y became the first electric vehicle to rank as the world's best-selling car. Buyers order the Model 3 sedan, Model Y SUV, or Cybertruck pickup directly from Tesla instead of through dealers, and they charge on its Supercharger fast-charging network. It also sells Megapack and Powerwall batteries, runs a robotaxi service, and charges drivers a monthly fee for self-driving software that still needs their supervision. Tesla was founded in 2003, with Elon Musk as its lead early investor and a recognized co-founder, and it is based in Austin, Texas.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Austin, TX
Founded: 2003

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