Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer - Soft Goods & Exteriors

Job Description

Join the Tesla Optimus team and help build the future of general-purpose robotics. We are developing a highly capable, safe, and scalable humanoid robot designed to perform useful tasks in factories, homes, and beyond—leveraging Tesla’s expertise in AI, product design, and high-volume manufacturing. Our mission is to create a robot that can understand and interact with the real world at a level that transforms everyday life and unlocks new possibilities for humanity.  

The Soft Goods and Exteriors team designs the robot’s skin and suit—everything you can see and feel. We work closely with the Tesla Design Studio to create a futuristic and inspiring aesthetic while respecting the human form. Achieving this vision requires a creative design mindset and relentless innovation in flexible materials, textiles, and fabrication processes capable of reaching massive scale with exceptional quality. 

Hiring engineers at all levels.

Job Responsibilities

• Design and develop the robot’s skin, clothing, and accessories, balancing aesthetics, tactile feel, durability, and human-like proportions in close collaboration with the Tesla Design Studio
• Research, select, and innovate flexible materials—including textiles, foams, and elastomers—to achieve the desired appearance, flexibility, and long-term performance under cost constraints
• Conduct material testing and characterization to validate performance attributes such as flexibility, abrasion resistance, environmental durability, and safety
• Perform tolerance analysis and develop alignment and attachment schemes to achieve precise craftsmanship targets in volume production
• Integrate soft exterior elements with the underlying mechanical structures, ensuring clean interfaces, proper fit, and compatibility with motion, sensors, and thermal requirements
• Develop innovative designs using compressible and stretchable geometries that enhance human safety and compliance during physical interaction with the robot
• Rapidly prototype using a variety of methods (sewing, molding, bonding, 3D printing, etc.), iterate on designs, and drive concepts from early development through to volume manufacturing
• Develop specifications, quality standards, and inspection methods for soft goods components and finished assemblies
• Partner with suppliers and manufacturing teams to meet precise design specifications, optimize processes, and resolve production challenges while meeting cost and timeline targets
• Drive every phase of product launch, including part design, tooling design and Moldflow analysis, tool trials and validation, process certification, and quality approvals (cosmetic and dimensional)

Job Requirements

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or equivalent industry experience
• Experience shipping consumer-grade products at rates in the millions of units per year
• Deep knowledge of material science and high-volume manufacturing processes (injection molding, casting preferred)
• Proficiency in designing parts and assemblies using 3D modeling software (CATIA preferred)
• Proficiency in drafting engineering drawings and conducting tolerance stack-up analysis (GD&T required)
• Experience in stretchable materials, stretchable & soft materials and fabrics also preferred