Tesla
Automotive & MobilityDirect employer career site

Robotics Modeling & Simulation Design Engineer, Optimus

Pay
$124,000 – $324,000 per year
Location
Palo Alto, CA · On-site
Job type
Full-time
Level
Mid-level
Listed
29 days ago

About the role

Robotics Modeling & Simulation Design Engineer, Optimus | Tesla (Tesla SI)

Location: Palo Alto, California | Req ID: 245465 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

The Optimus team designs and builds humanoid bi-pedal robots to automate repetitive tasks and wheeled robots for manufacturing and autonomous logistics. The team joins mechanical, electrical, controls, software, and manufacturing engineering disciplines in a highly collaborative team. You will work on improving the robot’s behavior in the real world and reflecting those capabilities in a simulation engine for fast iteration. The code you will write will at term run in thousands of humanoid robots in real world situations and will therefore be held to high quality standards.

What You'll Do

  • Work on the architecture and controls for per-joint level systems in the Tesla Bot
  • Robot modelling architecture
  • Conceptual design of biped robots
  • Accurate modeling of kinematic chains
  • Abstraction and conversion of joint mechanisms into rigid body trees
  • Physics/model representations of joints, limbs
  • Design and support of new mechanism
  • Measurement and matching of model and simulation
  • Complex controls simplification for fast analysis

What You'll Bring

  • Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field or equivalent experience and evidence of exceptional ability
  • 3+ years’ experience with controls system development, modeling, and implementation
  • Excellent background in linear systems analysis, stability, and controller design
  • Creating dynamic models of electrical, mechanical, and thermal systems
  • Experience, understanding, and intuition for the physics of basic electric propulsion, motion control systems, and heat transfer
  • Knowledge in control systems including, spring loaded inverted pendulum, zero momentum control, model predictive control, Motor controls, etc. Modeling knowledge in inverse kinematics, inverse/forward dynamics, impedance control, torque control, etc.
  • Basic design of electric motors, power electronics and control circuits
  • Familiar with gear reduction mechanisms including planetary, belt drives, harmonics drives, magnetic gears, etc.
  • Excellent programming skills in Python, C++, Matlab/Simulink

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$124,000 - $324,000/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.

Read the original posting

From Tesla's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 12, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.

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Common questions

What is the salary for the Robotics Modeling & Simulation Design Engineer, Optimus role at Tesla?

The Robotics Modeling & Simulation Design Engineer, Optimus posting at Tesla states compensation of $124,000 – $324,000 per year. It is listed as a full-time position. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on Tesla's official career site.

Where is the Robotics Modeling & Simulation Design Engineer, Optimus job at Tesla located?

This Robotics Modeling & Simulation Design Engineer, Optimus position at Tesla is located in Palo Alto, CA (On-site). Always check Tesla's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.

How do I apply for the Robotics Modeling & Simulation Design Engineer, Optimus position at Tesla?

This listing links directly to Tesla's application page. You can apply directly on Tesla's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.