Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer, Bearings, Optimus

About the role

Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer, Bearings, Optimus | Tesla (Tesla SI)

Location: Palo Alto, California | Req ID: 264434 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

In this role, you will contribute to the design, optimization, and validation of bearing systems for the Tesla Bot, ensuring precision, reliability, and efficiency in mobility components. This role involves selecting and specifying bearings (type, size, fit, preload, etc.) while collaborating with cross-functional teams to define load, alignment, lubrication, and cleanliness requirements for optimal performance.

You will execute bearing validation tests, conduct failure analysis, and resolve design and quality issues across the product lifecycle, ensuring alignment with performance and reliability standards. Collaborating with manufacturing, supply chain, and suppliers, you will drive process improvements, provide technical guidance, and support the development of geartrain components like gears and shafts.

What You'll Do

• Bearing arrangement, configuration analysis and optimization for given gear systems
• Bearing optimal selection and specification (type, size, fit, RIC, cross corner tolerance and preload) with regards to function, reliability, efficiency and quality requirement
• Interface with Optimus teams to establish bearing load, alignment, lubrication and cleanliness requirements
• Inner race and out race integration into gears and adjacent surfaces
• Instructions for in house manufacturing of bearing races and material/hardness selection
• Bearing validation test profile design, test planning and execution
• Failure analysis and problem resolution for new and existing products
• Provide technical guidance to cross functional teams (manufacturing, production, quality, supply chain and service) through entire development and life cycle of drive unit products to ensure smooth and timely release of new bearing products
• Interface with bearing suppliers to provide support and drive process improvement and product excellence to achieve maximum design potential
• Support design, development, test, failure analysis and design improvement of other geartrain components, including gears, shafts, differentials, couplers and clutches

What You'll Bring

• Institutional and/or professional experience analyzing and designing bearing and geartrain components
• Strong fundamentals of bearing contact mechanics, rolling contact fatigue, bearing lubrication, bearing material and heat treatment, and failure analysis
• Experience with design and manufacturing of deep groove, cross roller, needle roller, 4 point contact bearings, etc.
• Demonstrating technical aptitude from concept through release and launch for production or the equivalent in experience and evidence of exceptional ability
• Modeling experience utilizing Matlab, Python or equivalent
• Experience in MESYS, SimPro, Romax, Masta or other bearing and geartrain analysis tools a bonus

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 + benefitsPay 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.