Modeling & Simulation Design Engineer, Optimus

Tesla Motors, Inc.
84,000 - 234,000 USD
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, California, Palo Alto
Jul 29, 2025
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 fastiteration. 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' experiencewith 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 heattransfer 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 Compensation and Benefits Benefits Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire: Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical 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 Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Aetna 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 Employee Assistance Program Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary 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 Expected Compensation $84,000 - $234,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits Pay 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.