Firmware Engineer, AI Hardware

Firmware Engineer, AI Hardware Tesla Motors, Inc. 128,000 - 282,000 USD paid holidays, flex time, 401(k) United States, California, Palo Alto May 11, 2026 What to Expect The Tesla AI Hardware team stands at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation, developing custom silicon and compute infrastructure that redefine what's possible in machine learning. Our team designs advanced AI accelerators and the datacenter systems that scale them-from Dojo, Tesla's purpose-built supercomputer, to the infrastructure that trains massive neural networks powering Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robot. Every custom chip, every server, and every rack requires firmware that maximizes performance, ensures reliability, and enables seamless integration at datacenter scale. We are seeking a Firmware Engineer to develop low-level software that brings our AI hardware to life. You will work on firmware for custom SOCs, microcontrollers, and datacenter compute platforms, writing code that runs on bare metal, FreeRTOS, and Linux to enable hardware bringup, system validation, and production deployment. What You'll Do

• Develop firmware for datacenter systems including X86/ARM CPUs, custom SoC, microcontrollers, and BMCs to enable hardware initialization, power management, thermal control, and system monitoring
• Bringup of new silicon and compute platforms
• Driver development (Linux, FreeRTOS, etc)
• Create diagnostic and validation tools to test firmware functionality, performance, and reliability
• Implement system-level features including boot sequences, firmware updates, fault detection, error handling, and recovery mechanisms for high-reliability datacenter operations What You'll Bring
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of embedded systems or firmware development experience
• Strong proficiency embedded systems programming (C/C++, Rust, etc)
• Hands-on experience with microcontrollers, SoCs, and hardware peripherals (I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe, GPIO)
• Experience with hardware bringup, debugging tools (JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers), and lab validation
• Proven experience developing firmware for baremetal environments, FreeRTOS, or embedded Linux
• Deep understanding of hardware/software interfaces, memory management, and low-level system architecture
• Strong debugging skills across firmware, hardware, and software domains
• Ability to read schematics, datasheets, and hardware specifications 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 $128,000 - $282,000/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.