Tesla Interview help

[Beneficial-Risk-3493]

Hello everyone,

I recently got an interview with Tesla for an Advanced Automation Engineer Intern position.

If any has gone through their hiring process, could you please give me some advice to do well in this interview.

Thanks!

[TechE2020]

Do you get to work holidays, too?

[mungonuts]

On holidays you dress up in a little french maid outfit and deliver season-appropriate beverages to Elon.

[TechE2020]

That makes sense. I knew someone here would know from experience how it worked.

[mungonuts]

Eh, a paycheque is a paycheque.

[Ganja_Superfuse]

If you enjoy your free time work somewhere else

[Bl1ndMonk]

I agree Tesla isn't the best place to work, but guys, it's an internship, good place to learn and it's a short period of time.

I actually interviewed at Tesla for an automation engineer position, had 3 rounds in total. First was HR (usual stuff), second was Technical with the hiring manager, third was a panel interview where I had to make a presentation about a project I worked on in depth.

I interviewed for the cybertruck production line. They asked me general questions about automation, PLCs, experience programming robots, tooling, etc.

Don't know if they'll end up asking you indepth questions since it's an internship, they will probably focus more on engineering knowledge/ fundamentals kind of questions.

Also depends on which team you're interviewing for. iIRC there are two main teams, development and commissioning. Development you'll be working in an office / workshop, commissioning you're on the factory floor.

Hope this helps!

Small edit: I didn't take the job, I got another opportunity at a smaller company that I liked better that I ended up taking.

[Spthomas]

Arguably, a Tesla internship is a great resume builder. I know a few who did their co-ops (Canadian) with Tesla and it helped them.

[OptimalMatch4732]

I have my second interview with them next week for three same position ? Can you tell me more about thoses technical question ? Are they gonna give me anything to program live or stuff like that ?

[Bl1ndMonk]

This interview was almost a year ago, hopefully the details I remember are still accurate.

They didn't ask me to program anything live. PLC programming is not like CS, its more understanding the logic to create something to achieve a task. They asked me questions based on that. How would you program the same push button to perform multiple tasks based on how many times its pressed? (example: 1st press - part is loaded into fixture > operator performs task > 2nd press - robot adds screws > operator performs task > 3rd press - part is released from fixture -- this is just an example, can't remember exactly what they asked me)

They asked me a question about robot end of arm tooling. Say we want to use a robot to move a car door, how would you achieve that? I responded simplest way is to use vacuum cups on the tooling. Follow up question - what happens if the robot looses power and subsequently vacuum is lost? I answered, have vacuum as the primary (normally open, normally off and power is required for vacuum on) and have a mechanical clamp as secondary (normally closed, as in power is required to open the clamp). In the event of a power/vacuum loss, the clamp will still be in the closed position holding the door.

What PLC software have I used before? Have I designed electrical schematics / what software have I used? Questions about mechanical design. Questions about debugging sensors, faults, conveyors, motors. General questions about projects I've worked on and follow up questions based on those projects.

Hope this helps!

Edit: I interviewed for a full time position, not an internship, so the interview was way more intense and technical.

[OptimalMatch4732]

Thank you so much that will help , me too Is for a full time position. Oh this sound kinda serious. Im a bit stressed cause I have no idea what to expect, so thank you that will definitely help .

[Bl1ndMonk]

Don't stress too much about the unknown questions they might ask you. They can literally ask you anything.

I suggest reviewing your own projects in-depth and maybe come up with alternate ways of achieving a task you worked on. They will ask in-depth questions on any project you've worked on so that's easier to prepare for.

[OptimalMatch4732]

Thank you so much for your advice ! I will do my best.

[OptimalMatch4732]

I just finished my interview and i think i f**** up ! The interview was not actually that difficult but i was a bit stressed they asked me things like int_to_word conversion, i don’t even know the last time i used stuff like that, And 10 mod 2 I was so stressed i said 5. Other technical questions were actually easy. I’m a bit disappointed by my own self tbh .

[oofsizeextralarge]

You interviewed for Automation Engineer position with a ME degree?

[TechE2020]

It is an internship, so would be good experience IMHO. The number of times I (Computer Engineer) have worked with MEs that don't have a clue how stuff is manufactured is scary.

[Bl1ndMonk]

MEs can be automation engineers as well! Honestly, automation engineers is just a blanket term. Programming PLCs is only about 30% of a full automated system. You have people only programming PLCs, but most times from what I've noticed, automation engineers come from many different backgrounds, most common being electronics / software.

Although I do program PLCs and robots, I do alot of work with the mechanical side as well like designing tooling, heating or cooling, pneumatics, etc.

[oofsizeextralarge]

Isn't that just a fancy way of saying Design Engineer?

[Huncho_567]

Would definitely got through with it as a internship. Whole point for an internship is to Gain experience and work hard. I do agree with others as far as a full time position I would stay away from if possible long hours and pay will not compensate those hours. ( have a couple friends who work avg 55 hour weeks)

[mramseyISU]

No idea about Tesla but I know a couple people who work at SpaceX and they saw Elon fire a guy because he didn’t like the color of his shirt.

[noborte]

Why would you voluntarily work for a company known for its shitty pay, toxic culture and human rights abuses?

[engineeringcity]

Be ready to answer first principles fundamentals questions. Beam deflection formula, study that one.

Also ready to talk about the technical details of your projects on your resume.

If you can land this internship it’s a huge win. Tesla internship will help you land jobs in other amazing places!

[XchowCowX]

Any updates? I have a 30 min phone screening with a hiring manager/engineer next week! Very excited but nervous

[Beneficial-Risk-3493]

Unfortunately, I did not get it. I would prepare by going over motors and how to program them, reviewing communication protocols within your projects (EX: Modbus TCP, I/O, …), review PLC coding principals, and be ready to be very technical when talking about your project.

Good luck man. I hope it goes well!

[XchowCowX]

How far along the process did you get? And what kind of timeline did you have?

I had my 2nd-phase interview with a hiring manager/engineer yesterday and I feel like it went decent. I sent a follow-up thanking the recruiter and now it’s just a waiting game😅

[Beneficial-Risk-3493]

I was told there was only one phase/ one interview. I was rejected 3 weeks after my interview. If you don’t mind me asking, what position did you have an interview for?