Engineering Technician, Actuators, Optimus

Engineering Technician, Actuators, Optimus Tesla Motors, Inc. 24.40 - 65.40 USD paid holidays, flex time, 401(k) United States, California, Palo Alto May 23, 2026
What to Expect The Actuator Design Team is seeking a skilled Engineering Technician to support the development and testing of Tesla's cutting-edge actuators. As a key member of our team, you will collaborate with Engineers to test and validate actuators across all consumer products. Your expertise will help drive innovation, identify areas for improvement, and ensure the reliability and performance of our products. In this role, you will apply your technical knowledge to support the design and development of test plans, procedures, and protocols. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to iterate on product and test designs, analyze data, and draw meaningful conclusions. Your attention to detail, analytical skills, and ability to think critically will be essential in identifying and resolving complex technical issues. To succeed in this role, you must be a team player with excellent communication skills, a strong work ethic, and a passion for innovation. You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, adapting to changing priorities, and thriving in ambiguity. Your expertise will help us push the boundaries of drive unit performance, reliability, and safety. The Actuator Design Team is committed to accelerating innovation and rapidly iterating designs. As an Engineering Technician, you will play a critical role in ensuring the efficiency and meticulousness of our testing processes, combining engineering fundamentals with a scientific approach to experimental design, data collection, and analysis. What You'll Do
Conduct visual and functional inspections ofactuators and associated parts to identify defects, irregularities, and areas for improvement
Installactuators on dynamometers, test, and analyze engineering prototypes to validate design assumptions and identify areas for improvement
Collaborate with test engineers to develop and execute test plans, procedures, and protocols to validate drive unit performance and reliability
Communicate effectively with cross-functional teams, including design, reliability, and Test Engineers, to identify and resolve technical issues and improve product design
Provide clear and concise documentation of test results, inspection findings, and technical issues to support data-driven decision making
Maintain a high standard of organization and safety in the lab, including inventory management, tooling, and equipment maintenance
Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement changes to increase efficiency and productivity
Design, fabricate, and modify test fixtures and equipment to supportactuator testing and validation
Stay up to date with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies
You may travel to support lab expansion and testing activities at Bay Area and/or global Tesla facilities What You'll Bring
5+ years experience manual machining
Robust understanding of mechanical engineering principles and GD&T
Ability to interpret metric/imperial tolerances, as well as deliver micron-level tolerance assemblies with little guidance
Highly motivated, willing to learn on the job
Able and willing to lift 50 lbs.
Comfortable to work in an industrial environment (90% indoor)
Ability to assemble and test actuators, basic machining of parts
Familiar with easy lathe or milling operations, CNC programming skills a plus
MS Office, G code, Matlab/Python a plus
Electrical engineering understanding a plus 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: 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
Expected Compensation
$24.40 - $65.40/hour + 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.