Tesla : Fall 2024 Internship

Introduction: This Fall 2024, I had the privilege of interning at Tesla, one of my dream companies to work with and as an admirer of Elon Musk’s grit, determination, and resilience. As a Data Engineering Intern, I supported manufacturing processes across four Gigafactories, focusing on Fremont and Austin. This was my first experience with large-scale automotive manufacturing, offering invaluable insights into Tesla’s production of Model’s SX3Y and Cybertruck.

?Experience: The internship provided a fascinating glimpse into Tesla’s advanced robotic systems and the intricate processes involved in building each car. I also interacted with production teams, gaining firsthand knowledge of the challenges they face and the industrial terminology they use. It was inspiring to learn about Tesla’s innovative workflows and their ability to consistently meet ambitious production targets. Additionally, I deepened my understanding of Tesla’s products like GigaPress, Megapacks, Powerwalls, and solar energy solutions. I got to see the CyberCab and Robovan displayed at the Tesla GFTX entrance.

?My role primarily involved building Airflow DAGs to perform ETL operations across manufacturing data systems. I developed SQL scripts to validate daily and weekly throughput numbers and implemented custom Python operators in Airflow for specific use cases. I also had the opportunity to work with ClickHouse, a columnar database optimized for distributed, high-performance read operations. Cross-collaboration with teams introduced me to Kafka Streams, Kubernetes, and Docker, further broadening my technical knowledge.

Reflections: ?I am incredibly grateful to Ashwin Krishnappa, Jatan Kaushik, and Johnny Nguyen for their guidance and mentorship, as well as to the entire team for sharing their expertise and fostering a collaborative environment.

Lessons and Growth: This internship provided firsthand insight into the critical role of large-scale time-series data in every aspect of Tesla’s manufacturing processes. I also gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of manufacturing and the business acumen needed to design systems that address real-world challenges using cutting-edge tools.

Conclusion: This internship was both challenging and rewarding, offering hands-on experience with large-scale data and manufacturing processes while contributing to Tesla’s innovative mission. It not only expanded my technical skills but also enriched my personal growth, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

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