Software Engineer, Optimus Diagnostics

About the role

• Software Engineer, Optimus Diagnostics | Tesla (Vehicle Software)
• Location: PALO ALTO, California | Req ID: 278103 | Job Type: Full-time
• What to Expect

Engineering sits at the intersection of firmware, hardware, service, manufacturing, quality, and reliability. Our mission is to ensure products are diagnosed accurately, reliably, and as quickly as possible, with feedback loops that drive continuous product improvement.

Optimus is expanding from engineering labs into production and service at scale. As a Software Engineer on the Optimus Diagnostics team, you will design, build, and ship the diagnostic software that production, manufacturing, and service teams use every day to bring up, troubleshoot, and recover humanoid robots.

As an Optimus Diagnostics engineer, you will own features end-to-end and improve reliability and UX of diagnostic tooling. You will work closely with Optimus firmware, manufacturing, and service partners, and you will ship software that keeps robots moving on the line and in the field.

What You'll Do

• Design, implement, and maintain Optimus diagnostic capabilities in Toolbox, our diagnostic platform
• Build full-stack features across React/TypeScript front ends and Python/Go backends that connect to robot telemetry, firmware APIs, and diagnostic services
• Develop diagnostic workflows and automation that reduce time-to-diagnose for manufacturing bring-up, production, and service
• Improve observability, reliability, and performance of Optimus diagnostic paths (connection state, streaming, auth, command dispatch, logging).
• Partner with Optimus firmware and systems engineers to expose the right alerts, signals, vitals, and service actions in tooling
• Debug production issues in diagnostic software, root-cause failures, and ship timely fixes
• Participate in architecture and design reviews as Optimus diagnostic volume and product surface area grow

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Computer Science, or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of software development experience
• Proficiency in Python or Go, and modern frontend development (React/TypeScript or similar)
• Experience building and operating production web applications or internal developer/operator tools
• Strong debugging skills across the stack: UI, APIs, networking, and authentication
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with incomplete requirements and real-world production constraints
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to collaborate with firmware, manufacturing, and service stakeholders
• Bias for ownership: you finish what you start and measure success by time-to-resolution for users, not tickets closed
• Experience with Linux, containers (Docker/Kubernetes), and CI/CD for services used by operations teams a plus
• Experience with robotics, industrial automation, vehicle diagnostics, live telemetry, streaming protocols, or remote device management a nice to have

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$140,000 - $252,000/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.