Staff Electrical Engineer, Power Electronics, Optimus

Tesla Motors, Inc.
88,000 - 270,000 USD
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, California, Palo Alto
Dec 08, 2025
What to Expect Tesla's Optimus humanoid electronics team is looking for highly motivated, skilled, and experienced electrical engineer to develop robots' electrical "cardiovascular, sensory, and nervous" systems. This position is critical to the development of high-performance electromechanical actuation systems. You will join the team of electrical and mechanical design engineers to develop the most efficient, torque, and power dense actuation systems in the world. Optimus hardware team joins electrical, mechanical, robotics, sensing, geartrain, electromagnetic, and manufacturing engineering disciplines in a highly collaborative, fast paced development environment. Optimus electronics team designs and deploys circuits responsible for power conversion across the entire robot, provide networking back bone, and accurately process sensory data across hundreds of devices across all electrical systems of the robot (actuators, motors, sensors, battery, etc.). As part of the design team, you will be responsible for all aspects of electrical design (modeling, schematic, layout, industrialization, bring up, and validation) of Optimus joint controllers. You will drive architectural design decisions and support industrialization and production activities. You will work closely with firmware, controls, and mechanical engineers. What You'll Do Own compete start-to-finish hardware developmentprocess: architecture development, requirement definition and specification, design execution, simulation, schematic, board layout, manufacturing and DFM iterations, board bring up and integration, and validationof circuit functionality Lead and organize collaboration with firmware, mechanical hardware, robot and motor controls, PCB layout, program management, and validation teams on the design of world leading robotic electrical hardware Debug various hardware interactionsin a fast-paced multi-disciplinary environment Thoroughly document design requirements, calculations, validation results,etc. Rapidly iterate as design requirements and product features mature over time What You'll Bring Expert-level understanding of power conversion/electronic circuit topologies and design (dc/ac inverters, dc/dc converters, battery powered circuit, Si/GaN/SiC FETs, diodes, gate drivers, semiconductor switching/conduction loss modeling and calculation) Expert-level understanding of analog and digital circuits (op-amps, microcontrollers, SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet, component selection, power dissipation, etc.) Strong experience in PCB layout for reduced parasitic inductance/capacitance, mixed power and signal board layout, design for EMI/EMC performance Strong experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, electronic loads, impedance analyzers, signal generators, LCR meters, etc.) Modeling and simulation experience (LTSpice, PLECS, ANSYS-Maxwell is preferred) Demonstrated experience shipping high-volume PCBAs Ability and willingness to tackle and rapidly iterate on open-ended challenges using first-principles approach Experience managing direct reports or leading a small team is preferred Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field, 5+ years of professional experience or equivalent experience 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: Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical 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 Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Aetna 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 Employee Assistance Program Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary 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 $88,000 - $270,000/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.