Staff Controls Engineer, Optimus

Tesla's Optimus program is building a future of sustainable abundance and we are building a team that designs and builds the automated manufacturing machines. You'll be at the center of one of the most ambitious manufacturing launches in Tesla's history, and likely the world’s, driving rapid equipment development and deployment on the Optimus production line. As a Staff Controls Engineer, your primary responsibility is to be the lead controls engineer for new, automated manufacturing equipment projects.

You’ll be involved in projects from start to finish, where you’ll oversee and provide guidance for junior engineers assigned to the project and provide direct technical contributions for the most critical areas of the project. You and your team will architect, develop and deploy software for industrial controllers, like PLCs, HMIs, robot controllers, machine vision systems and more. New automated manufacturing equipment is designed, built and performance tested by us, then set up at its final destination for final commissioning and start of production.

Take the lead controls engineering role, leading a team of controls engineers to complete capex projects on accelerated timelines Design high performing equipment by collaborating with mechanical & electrical engineers on topics such as machine layout, tooling design, process strategies and hardware selection of motors & drives, actuators, and sensors Challenge requirements & assumptions, identify & delete unnecessary parts & processes and find ways to reduce complexity Estimate project labor requirements and plan the team’s schedule, reducing large and complex project scopes into simple, clear, and aggressive objectives, that your team will execute under your direction Accelerate your team toward success by providing consistent leadership throughout all phases of the project.

You’ll set aggressive goals for them, review their progress, support them technically and professionally and make necessary course corrections along the way Define software architecture by creating diagrams and flow charts for high level topology, device level control, and process sequencing Program PLCs and HMIs for state control, motor control, servo motion control, and pneumatic actuations Program industrial robots for material handling and process applications Work hands-on with the equipment during the debug phase to bring it to a high performing and robust state by performing validations and exception testing for hardware, software, and processes Travel to the factory for on-site commissioning of the equipment, performing final validations, and supporting it into production.

Ability to travel up to 25%, potentially on short notice 8+ years’ experience programming, debugging, and commissioning industrial machines of moderate to high complexity Experience programming PLCs from brands like Siemens, Allen Bradley, or Beckhoff. Siemens PLC programming experience is preferred Strong mechanical aptitude and proficiency with hand tools Strong electrical aptitude and experience with industrial electrical wiring for 3-Phase AC power and DC control circuits and proficiency with electrical diagnostic tools Proficiency with viewing mechanical and electrical CAD documents with software like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and Eplan Experience working collaboratively with a large team.

Project leadership experience is a plus Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Science, or equivalent), or equivalent experience