Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer, Plastics & Exteriors, Optimus

Role details

What to Expect

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 SI, 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 Plastics and Exteriors team designs the robot’s outer shell. We own attachment, integration, and assembly on the bot, creating exteriors that hold cosmetic and dimensional precision while enhancing safety and performance.

Hiring engineers at all levels.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop the robot’s exterior hardware—molded covers, cladding, and structural surfaces—balancing aesthetics, craftsmanship, and durability in close collaboration with the Tesla Design Studio
• Determine component-level mechanical requirements—stiffness, strength, and compliance—from functional product specifications
• Develop attachment and alignment schemes, owning CAD integration of exterior hardware into the robot
• Develop innovative designs using compressible and compliant geometries that enhance human safety during physical interaction with the robot
• Determine the effect of exterior hardware and integrated soft goods on robot performance, by running characterization tests and correlating simulations
• Perform tolerance analysis, including process variability, environmental exposure, and material aging, to achieve precise craftsmanship targets for gap, flush, and alignment in volume production
• Perform tolerance analysis, including process variability, environmental exposure, and material aging, to achieve precise craftsmanship targets for gap, flush, and alignment in volume production
• Perform material and process selection for high-volume production based on mechanical properties, dimensional capability, cosmetics, cost, and supply chain stability
• Drive every phase of product launch, including part design, tooling design and Moldflow analysis, tool trials and validation, process certification, and quality approvals (cosmetic and dimensional)
• Conduct should-cost analysis to determine the fair price of goods from fundamental raw materials through value-adding processing steps including labor and logistics

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent industry experience
• Experience shipping consumer-grade products at rates in the millions of units per year
• Deep knowledge of material science and high-volume manufacturing processes (injection molding and casting preferred)
• Proficiency in designing parts and assemblies using 3D modeling software (CATIA/3DX preferred)
• Proficiency in drafting engineering drawings and conducting tolerance stack-up analysis (GD&T required)
• Experience integrating rigid covers, cladding, or similar exterior hardware onto a moving product preferred

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly 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
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program
• Earned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)

Expected Compensation

$108,000 - $360,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.