Software Validation Engineer, Opticaster

About the role

• Software Validation Engineer, Opticaster | Tesla (Energy Engineering)
• Location: Palo Alto, California | Req ID: 282304 | Job Type: Full-time
• What to Expect

Opticaster’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy by optimizing how batteries are charged and discharged to maximize value for customers and the grid. Our algorithms power Tesla’s energy products—including Powerwalls, Megapacks, Virtual Power Plants, and microgrids—across a global fleet.

Opticaster is a customer-facing product: the software you build directly shapes how hundreds of thousands of homes and energy sites store, use, and export energy every day. As a Software Validation Engineer, you will partner with algorithm engineers throughout the development cycle to accelerate testing and ensure our products meet the highest quality standards. You will own and drive the development of scalable, AI-driven test automation that continuously validates our cutting-edge energy storage systems.

What You'll Do

• Own and drive scalable, AI-driven test automation that continuously validates Opticaster software
• Partner with algorithm and software engineers to develop automated tests and accelerate validation throughout the development cycle
• Run and expand large-scale cloud simulations that produce clear pass/fail evidence before changes reach customers
• Implement automated checks and improve validation tooling in Python for test execution, result analysis, failure triage, and reporting
• Integrate validation into CI/CD so checks run reliably as part of normal development and release
• Investigate failures, identify root causes, and work with partners to resolve issues before they reach customers
• Support device-level testing when simulation alone is not sufficient to cover risk
• Communicate validation results clearly so the team can make confident ship decisions

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, or related engineering field, or equivalent experience
• Strong proficiency in Python
• Experience testing, simulating, or evaluating software systems—or a clear ability to ramp into that work quickly
• Experience writing automated tests or checks and turning results into actionable pass/fail decisions
• Practical experience using AI tools to improve engineering workflows (analysis, automation, reporting, triage)
• Strong debugging skills and comfort with ambiguous failures until root cause is clear
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to partner closely with algorithm and software engineers
• Experience with cloud batch jobs, CI, containers, or orchestration (e.g. Docker, AWS, Kubernetes/Argo) is a plus
• Experience with energy systems, control software, time-series evaluation, or optimization workflows is a plus
• Experience building internal tooling adopted by a team is a plus

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$120,000 - $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.