Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer, Soft Goods & Exteriors, Optimus - Palo Alto [247607]

$108,000 - $264,000 yearly

Job Description

Join the Tesla Optimus team and help build the future of general-purpose robotics. We are developing a highly capable, safe, and scalable humanoid robot designed to perform useful tasks in factories, homes, and beyond—leveraging Tesla’s expertise in AI, product design, and high-volume manufacturing. Our mission is to create a robot that can understand and interact with the real world at a level that transforms everyday life and unlocks new possibilities for humanity.

The Soft Goods and Exteriors team designs the robot’s skin and suit—everything you can see and feel. We work closely with the Tesla Design Studio to create a futuristic and inspiring aesthetic while respecting the human form. Achieving this vision requires a creative design mindset and relentless innovation in flexible materials, textiles, and fabrication processes capable of reaching massive scale with exceptional quality.

The Role

  • Design and develop the robot’s skin, clothing, and accessories, balancing aesthetics, tactile feel, durability, and human-like proportions in close collaboration with the Tesla Design Studio
  • Research, select, and innovate flexible materials—including textiles, foams, and elastomers—to achieve the desired appearance, flexibility, and long-term performance under cost constraints
  • Conduct material testing and characterization to validate performance attributes such as flexibility, abrasion resistance, environmental durability, and safety
  • Perform tolerance analysis and develop alignment and attachment schemes to achieve precise craftsmanship targets in volume production
  • Integrate soft exterior elements with the underlying mechanical structures, ensuring clean interfaces, proper fit, and compatibility with motion, sensors, and thermal requirements
  • Develop innovative designs using compressible and stretchable geometries that enhance human safety and compliance during physical interaction with the robot
Anthony Antonucci

Qualifications

Relevant experience in Tesla AI; strong problem-solving skills; commitment to Tesla mission.

Immediate Fill

No