Robotics Textile Development Engineer, 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 Soft Goods and Exteriors team designs the robot’s skin and suit-everything you can see and feel. Textile Development Engineers, fabricate and industrialize the textile itself (knit structure, pattern, and construction), turning soft goods requirements into validated components that hold their look and feel under demanding conditions and scale.

Multiple roles are open, including roles in knit programming and in patterning & construciton.

Hiring engineers at all levels.

What You'll Do

• Develop knitted and engineered textile components from requirements through validated, production-ready prototypes
• Develop patterns and execute cut-and-sew, seaming, and finishing to build complete functional components
• Rapidly prototype and iterate on knit structure, gauge, and construction to meet performance, feel, and durability targets
• Specify yarns and fibers for knit performance and machine compatibility
• Apply mass-manufacturing techniques so that prototypes transfer cleanly to production
• Develop and program knitted structures on industrial flat, seamless, and 3D knitting machines, translating design and engineering intent into machine-ready knit programs
• Develop knitted structures that integrate with adjacent hardware and electronics to meet performance and durability requirements
• Provide manufacturability and scalability feedback, and work closely with vendors to bring designs into production
• Document knit programs, patterns, and construction specifications so that parts are repeatable at a supplier
• Work with Soft Goods Engineering on the textile deliverable, with Mechanical Design on fit, and with test engineers to validate and qualify textile components

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Textile Engineering, Textile Technology, or equivalent industry experience
• Industry experience developing knitted or engineered textiles for a physical product
• Knit know-how across structure, gauge, construction, and material behavior
• Depth in knit programming on industrial machines, or in patterning and cut-and-sew of engineered textiles
• Experience carrying a textile from prototype into supplier production
• Experience developing technical or performance textiles 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 - $312,000/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.