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Tesla Software Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Tesla

Data Engineer, Robotaxi Operations

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

... fundamentals in software engineering -- version control, testing, CI/CD • Ability to work ... Tesla is an electric vehicle and clean energy company that provides electric cars, solar, and ...

Tesla

Sr. Software Engineer, Robotaxi Growth

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Tesla's mission is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy, and their Robotaxi ... Required : • 3+ years of experience as a software engineer, with a focus on user growth ...

Tesla

Sr. Security Engineer, Fleetnet

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$134K - $184K/yr

... fields with practical software engineering experience, or equivalent • Direct technical ... Tesla is an electric vehicle and clean energy company that provides electric cars, solar, and ...

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All JobsTesla Software Engineering JobsTesla Software Engineering Jobs in California

Tesla Software Engineering information

See California salary details

$62.7K

$145.6K

$202.8K

How much do tesla software engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for tesla software engineering in California is $145,592.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Tesla Software Engineering job?

A Tesla Software Engineering job involves designing, developing, and optimizing software for Tesla's products, including vehicles, energy solutions, and internal systems. Engineers work on cutting-edge technology like autonomous driving, battery management, and AI-driven applications. The role requires proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, or Java, and experience with software development frameworks. Collaboration with cross-functional teams is essential to enhance performance, safety, and user experience. Tesla engineers are expected to innovate, solve complex problems, and work in a fast-paced environment to support the company's mission of accelerating sustainable energy.

What is the typical team structure for a Tesla Software Engineering role, and how do engineers collaborate across projects?

Tesla Software Engineers often work in cross-functional teams that include product managers, hardware engineers, and other software specialists. Collaboration is highly valued, with regular meetings and code reviews to ensure integration across different technology domains—such as autonomous driving, manufacturing systems, or in-car infotainment. Engineers are encouraged to take ownership of features from conception to deployment, and may collaborate with teams in other locations to solve complex, real-world problems. This dynamic environment fosters innovation and provides opportunities for learning from experts in both software and hardware engineering. As a result, engineers gain exposure to diverse challenges and are able to significantly impact Tesla’s cutting-edge products.

How much do software engineers at Tesla make?

Software engineers at Tesla typically earn between $80,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and level. Compensation may also include stock options and bonuses, especially for senior roles or specialized skills like embedded systems or AI development.

Does Tesla hire software engineers?

Yes, Tesla regularly hires software engineers for roles involving vehicle software, energy products, and autonomous driving systems. Candidates typically need strong programming skills in languages like Python or C++, experience with embedded systems, and knowledge of automotive or energy industries.

Is it difficult to get hired at Tesla?

Getting hired as a Tesla Software Engineer can be competitive due to the company's high standards for technical skills, problem-solving ability, and relevant experience. Candidates often undergo multiple interview rounds, including technical assessments and behavioral interviews, and strong knowledge of programming languages like Python or C++ is beneficial.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Tesla Software Engineering position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Tesla Software Engineer, you need a solid foundation in computer science, programming (often in C++, Python, or Java), and a background in software development methodologies—usually evidenced by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field. Proficiency with development tools like Git, CI/CD pipelines, and experience working with embedded systems, automotive software, or cloud infrastructure is also valuable. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and a collaborative mindset are crucial soft skills. These capabilities ensure engineers can contribute to high-impact projects in a fast-paced environment, drive innovation, and deliver reliable software for Tesla’s advanced products.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, especially those working at major tech companies like Tesla, can earn $500,000 or more annually through base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, specialized skills in areas like AI or autonomous systems, and often involves leadership responsibilities or high-impact roles.
What are popular job titles related to Tesla Software Engineering jobs in California? For Tesla Software Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Tesla Software Engineering jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Tesla Software Engineering jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Tesla Software Engineering jobs? Cities in California with the most Tesla Software Engineering job openings:
Tesla Software Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Tesla Software Engineering job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, and 28% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $145,592 per year, or $70 per hour.
Software Engineer, Reinforcement Learning, AI Infrastructure

Software Engineer, Reinforcement Learning, AI Infrastructure

Tesla

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

$203K - $241K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Tesla rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 44 rated automakers

Job description

Job Summary:
Tesla is a leading company in AI technology, and they are seeking a Software Engineer to join their RL Infrastructure team. The role involves building and optimizing systems for large-scale reinforcement learning to enhance the performance and scalability of AI workloads critical for projects like Robotaxi and Optimus.
Responsibilities:
• Build infrastructure for large-scale reinforcement learning
• Improve performance and scalability of RL workloads
• Optimize training and inference latency, throughput, memory usage, and hardware utilization
• Develop tools for benchmarking, profiling, debugging, and monitoring
• Work closely with ML engineers to productionize new methods and workflows
• Debug bottlenecks across kernels, runtimes, networking, and distributed systems
• Improve system reliability, correctness, and engineering quality across the RL stack
Qualifications:
Required:
• Industry experience in GPU inference, writing GPU kernels, and/or RL training infrastructure
• Practical programming experience in Python and/or C/C++
• Experience working with ML training frameworks (ideally PyTorch)
• Strong understanding of performance engineering and distributed systems
• Experience with PyTorch, CUDA, NCCL, Triton, Ray, or similar tools
• Experience profiling and optimizing CPU-GPU interactions (pipelining computation with data transfers, etc.)
• Proficient in system-level software, in particular hardware-software interactions and resource utilization
• Ability to solve difficult systems problems with minimal oversight
Company:
Tesla is an electric vehicle and clean energy company that provides electric cars, solar, and renewable energy solutions. Founded in 2003, the company is headquartered in Austin, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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