Soft Goods 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 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 own how it is built and finished to perform under demanding conditions. We turn ambitious concepts from the Tesla Design Studio into real products, industrialized for exceptional quality at massive scale.

What You'll Do

• Develop the robot’s soft goods from concept through volume production, defining construction intent, material selection, and acceptance criteria
• Partner with the Tesla Design Studio on the aesthetics and tactile feel of the robot's skin
• Down-select and specify flexible materials to achieve the desired appearance, flexibility, and long-term performance under cost constraints
• Develop and qualify the bonding, lamination, and welding processes that build and finish soft goods
• Integrate soft goods onto the full robot, maintaining fit, range of motion, and compatibility with the underlying hardware
• Integrate electronic elements into soft goods, working with electrical engineers on performance and durability requirements
• Work with the textile development team to iterate rapidly on construction and materials, and drive concepts from early prototypes through to volume manufacturing
• Lead characterization of soft goods with the Test, CAE, and Materials teams to validate durability, performance, and safety
• Develop specifications, quality standards, and inspection methods for soft goods components and finished assemblies
• Define critical-to-quality and manufacturability requirements for supplier processes, and partner with suppliers to drive process capability and readiness for production

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Materials Engineering, or a relate field, or equivalent industry experience
• Experience shipping consumer-grade products at rates in the millions of units per year
• Hands-on experience with PU or silicone lamination, welding, and bonding of films and coated fabrics
• Experience defining acceptance criteria and inspection methods against published test standards (AATCC, ASTM, or equivalent)
• Working knowledge of process capability and validation methods (DOE, SPC, Gage R&R) sufficient to drive supplier readiness

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.