Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer, Hand, Optimus

Role overview

Join Tesla’s Optimus program and contribute to the creation of advanced general-purpose robotics. The team is building a safe, scalable humanoid robot intended to carry out practical work in factories, homes, and similar environments, combining Tesla’s strengths in AI, product engineering, and large-scale manufacturing. The goal is to develop a robot that can perceive and respond to the real world in ways that meaningfully change daily life.

This role focuses on the robot hand, which is central to the system’s usefulness. The hand must deliver human-like dexterity in a human-scale package, while packaging sensors, actuators, and mechanisms into a very compact design that can survive demanding work and precise handling alike.

What you will do

• Create rugged structures and mechanisms that enable the complex motion of a human hand while integrating sensing, actuation, and compliance elements.
• Carry out kinematic studies, mechanism refinement, and tolerance analysis to achieve accurate movement, strong output, and consistent repeatability.
• Estimate loads and run stress analyses to size bearings, linkages, and bolted joints appropriately.
• Continuously test, refine, and improve tendon routing and electrical interconnect designs so they remain reliable across failure scenarios.
• Build rapid prototypes of intricate hand mechanisms using multiple fabrication techniques, then evolve them from early concepts into designs ready for mass production.
• Author product specifications, test plans, and quality criteria for mechanisms, subassemblies, and complete hand assemblies.
• Work closely with actuator, tactile sensing, firmware, and AI teams to ensure hardware and sensing elements integrate smoothly.
• Develop custom fixtures, test setups, and calibration tools for both prototype work and production-scale manufacturing.
• Run durability, reliability, and environmental validation testing across the expected operating envelope.
• Coordinate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to scale output while meeting aggressive targets for cost, quality, and schedule.

What you should bring

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent hands-on industry experience.
• Strong ability to design parts and assemblies in 3D CAD software; CATIA is preferred.
• Experience producing engineering drawings and performing tolerance stack-up analysis; GD&T is a plus.
• Practical experience building and evaluating prototypes, along with evidence of taking designs into production.
• Clear communication skills and comfort working in a fast-moving, demanding environment.

Compensation and benefits

Full-time employees are eligible for Tesla benefits from day one. Offerings include medical coverage with options that require no payroll deduction, family-building support, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits, dental and vision plans with no paycheck contribution options, company-paid HSA contributions when enrolled in the high-deductible medical plan, healthcare and dependent care FSAs, 401(k) with employer match, employee stock purchase plans, basic life and AD&D coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance with a 90-day waiting period, employee assistance support, sick and vacation time, paid holidays, back-up childcare, parenting resources, voluntary insurance and legal/theft protection options, weight-loss and tobacco cessation programs, Tesla Babies support, commuter benefits, and employee discounts and perks.

Expected total cash compensation for this position is $108,000 to $264,000 per year, plus cash and stock awards and benefits. Actual pay may vary based on market location, role-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional details about benefit plan participation will be shared with selected candidates.