Sr. CMF Designer, Optimus

About the role

• Sr. CMF Designer, Optimus | Tesla (Design)
• Location: Hawthorne, California | Req ID: 281108 | Job Type: Full-time
• What to Expect

We are building the world’s most advanced humanoid robots—designed to live and work comfortably alongside humans. To make them feel natural, trusted, and beautiful in everyday environments, we need revolutionary color, materials, and finishes across hard and soft surfaces, combining high-performance function and engineering with world-class aesthetics.

As a Senior CMF Designer on the Optimus Design Team, you will design, develop, and execute color, material, and finish for all visible and tactile robot surfaces, unifying function and design intent into a cohesive vision. Working with the Tesla Design Studio and cross-functional partners, you will advance performance materials and finishes from concept through production, delivering a futuristic and inspiring aesthetic that respects the human form.

Success in this role requires strong design judgment, a highly creative mindset, and close collaboration to deliver innovative CMF and fabrication processes that scale to high volume with exceptional quality.

This position could be located in Hawthorne, CA or Palo Alto, CA.

All candidates must submit a portfolio/personal website to be considered.

What You'll Do

• Lead CMF direction for Optimus—palettes, textures, finishes, and haptics that feel premium, approachable, and cohesive on the form
• Ideate and develop CMF concepts; build digital and physical presentations that define future vision
• Partner with Design, ensuring materials and finishes reinforce visual identity and intended look and feel
• Collaborate with Engineering teams to meet technical requirements without compromising design intent
• Work with vendors and suppliers to develop innovative, scalable CMF solutions
• Analyze, refine, and approve CMF with suppliers and internal teams; manage design intent through material mastering and guide execution from prototype through production
• Create and maintain a CMF library; research and source new vendors and emerging material technologies. Manage CMF specification documentation and communicate design intent for production

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design, Textile Design, Color and Material Design, or equivalent experience with exceptional ability
• 5+ years CMF design within performance apparel and footwear, action sports, technical outerwear, wearables, soft goods, or compliant material development
• Proven delivery of CMF from early concept through production-ready execution, including functional soft goods or apparel
• Demonstrated experience sourcing or qualifying new vendors and manufacturing processes
• Strong knowledge of mass production, materials, and fabrication technologies—including soft materials and fabrics
• High color acuity; ability to pass the Munsell Hue Color Test with exceptional score
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration; exceptional visual, communication, and presentation skills

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$114,000 - $222,300/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.