T

Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Robotics Physics Modeling Engineer - Model Based Design

Full-Time
No salary listed
Mid
Bachelor's
Palo Alto, CA, USA
In Person
Mechanical EngineeringDesign Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent, or equivalent experience and evidence of exceptional ability.
  • At least 4 years of experience with system model development, controller co-simulation, and validation.
  • Experience developing physics-based multibody system models of electromechanical systems comprising several parts from scratch.
  • Analysis skills in statics, multibody dynamics, vibration, kinematics, stress, fatigue, and thermal analyses.
  • Experience, understanding, and intuition for the physics of basic electric propulsion, motion control systems, and heat transfer.
  • Good knowledge of control systems, including motor controls, model-based design, linear systems analysis, and stability.
  • Modeling knowledge in kinematics, inverse and forward dynamics, position control, and torque control.
  • Familiarity with basic design of electric motors, power electronics, and control circuits.
  • Good understanding of gear reduction mechanisms, including belt drives, harmonic drives, linear drives, and planetary drives.
  • Proficiency in open-source robotics solvers and incorporating customized models into open-source and in-house tools to inform design.
  • Strong programming skills in C++ or Python.
Responsibilities
  • Develop robot physics-based models.
  • Perform model-based design, architecture development, and robot controller development.
  • Conceptually design biped robots.
  • Model kinematic chains accurately.
  • Model system dynamics accurately.
  • Abstract and convert joint mechanisms into rigid body trees.
  • Develop physics/model representations of joints and limbs, and improve simulation-to-real transfer.
  • Support new mechanism development with model-informed design.
  • Measure and match models to measurements to achieve a low real-to-simulation gap.
  • Simplify complex controls for fast analysis.
Desired Qualifications
  • Proficiency in multibody dynamics modeling and simulation of robotics systems.
  • Proficiency in both C++ and Python.

About the company

T

Tesla

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Website

Tesla makes electric cars and batteries that store power for homes and utilities, and it develops self-driving software and humanoid robots. In 2023, its Model Y became the first electric vehicle to rank as the world's best-selling car. Buyers order the Model 3 sedan, Model Y SUV, or Cybertruck pickup directly from Tesla instead of through dealers, and they charge on its Supercharger fast-charging network. It also sells Megapack and Powerwall batteries, runs a robotaxi service, and charges drivers a monthly fee for self-driving software that still needs their supervision. Tesla was founded in 2003, with Elon Musk as its lead early investor and a recognized co-founder, and it is based in Austin, Texas.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Austin, Texas

Founded

2003

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Sales are growing again: revenue rose 26% to $28.2 billion in the June 2026 quarter, after falling 3% in 2025.
  • Software adds income beyond cars: paid users of its supervised self-driving feature rose 56% to 1.48 million by June 2026.
  • Hiring is back: Tesla's headcount grew 7% to 134,785 by December 2025, after layoffs shrank it 11% in 2024.

What critics are saying

  • Growth isn't reaching profit: operating profit fell 57% to $398 million in the June 2026 quarter, a 1.4% margin.
  • Alphabet's Waymo is far ahead in robotaxis: Texas records in May 2026 listed 577 Waymo vehicles to Tesla's 42.
  • Stock grants have lost value: Tesla shares fell 17% in 2026 through October 8, after a December 2025 record.

What makes Tesla unique

  • Energy storage punches above its weight: Tesla's energy unit made 13% of 2025 sales but 22% of gross profit.
  • Tesla set the charging standard: Ford, GM and all major EV sellers in North America adopted its plug by 2024.
  • Robots are written into Musk's pay: his 2025 award sets goals of 1 million humanoid robots and 1 million robotaxis.

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Benefits

  • Remote Work Options
  • Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

-1%

2 year growth

-1%
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