Robotics Engineering Technician, Actuator Gear Test, Optimus

The Actuator Design Team is seeking a skilled Engineering Technician to support the development and testing of Tesla's cutting-edge actuators and actuator gear trains. As a member of Actuator Test team, you will collaborate with Engineers to test and validate Optimus actuator gears. Your will help execute gear test tasks, collaborate with Test and Design engineers to design new test procedures, build high performance test rigs, and help the team deliver highest performance robotic actuation systems in the industry. 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 design, build, and iterate on test systems, 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 robotic actuator performance and reliability. 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.

Responsibilities

Design and assemble electromechanical test rigs with electric motors and drives, servo/robotics gears, force and torque sensors, position sensor and encoders Install gears and actuators on dynamometers, test, and analyze engineering prototypes to validate design assumptions and identify areas for improvement Conduct visual and functional inspections of actuators and gears and associated parts to identify defects, irregularities, and areas for improvement Collaborate with test engineers to develop and execute test plans, procedures, and protocols to validate gear and actuator 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 support actuator and gear testing and validation You may travel to support lab expansion and testing activities at Bay Area and/or global Tesla facilities

Requirements

2+ 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 Ability to assemble and test actuators and gears Ability to assemble low-voltage electric panels Basic electrical engineering understanding is a plus Basic knowledge of motion control is a plus Comfortable to work in an industrial environment (90% indoor) Able and willing to lift 50 lbs. MS Office, G code, Matlab/Python a plus