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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Drive Unit Software Product Support Engineer - **Company:** Tesla Motors - **Location:** Palo Alto, CA, United States - **Salary:** $113,424.0 - $248,880.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Systems Engineering, Automation of Tests, C++ (Programming Language), Communications Protocols, Software Debugging, Embedded Software, Ethernet, Firmware, Hardware Compatibility (Software Requirements), Python (Programming Language), SQL Databases, Systems Architecture - **Published:** August 27, 2026 - **Apply:** https://jobs.localjobnetwork.com/apply/add/88160713/1 ## About the Role * Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automotive Technology, Robotics, or equivalent practical experience with strong electromechanical depth * Experience providing real-time technical support or diagnostics on complex physical products (vehicles or industrial systems); exposure to autonomous, highly automated, or high-utilization fleets is highly valued * System-level debug skill across rotating machinery, lubrication / cooling, inverters, vehicle networks (CAN/Ethernet), sensors/actuators, and the software that coordinates them - not only firmware, and not only teardown * Working Python skills; ability to read and reason about C/C++ and embedded firmware a strong plus * Experience with data acquisition, fleet telemetry, SQL/analytics pipelines, and modern diagnostic tooling at fleet scale * Solid drive-unit / e-motor / gearbox / inverter / lubrication fundamentals - enough to challenge hardware and firmware and write correct diagnostic and compatibility logic * Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, exploded views, oil / hydraulic schematics, electrical schematics, and system architecture diagrams * Experience building or improving diagnostics (guided fault trees, service tools, commissioning / service routines, or embedded diagnostic firmware) preferred * Working knowledge of automotive communication protocols (CAN, LIN, Automotive Ethernet) and comfort debugging mixed electromechanical systems with heavy embedded software * Clear written communication, ownership when the field or fleet is blocked, and comfort in a high-velocity environment spanning passenger vehicles and unsupervised robotaxi fleets. Experience with part interchange, remanufacturing, or multi-generation hardware compatibility is a plus ## Description Drive-unit versions are multiplying - motors, inverters, oil and cooling, platform assemblies - and the same alert no longer means the same repair. You will make that complexity serviceable: what can be repaired versus replaced, which revision belongs on which vehicle, and how the work gets done in the field. You will also respond to highest level of technical escalations for field and fleet issues and a builder of next-generation diagnostic software, AI-assisted tools, and fleet telemetry pipelines. A deep background in diagnosing safety-critical rotating machinery with heavy embedded-software content is required. You must be passionate about Tesla's products, a rigorous systems thinker, and comfortable at the boundary of mechanical hardware, firmware, diagnostics, and large-scale fleet operations. What You'll Do * Serve as subject-matter expert and technical escalation for drive-unit / electric-powertrain issues across passenger vehicles and Robotaxi / Cybercab fleets * Provide real-time diagnostic support to service centers and fleet operations using vehicle logs, alerts, CAN/Ethernet signals, fleet telemetry, and remote debug - and drive the correct next action * Separate true hardware failure (motor, gearbox, oil system, inverter, sensor) from firmware, sensor validity, commissioning, and alert-noise problems across a rapidly growing set of drive-unit variants * Own service compatibility as drive-unit versions escalate - interchange, repair-versus-replace, reman rules - so technicians do not install the wrong unit * Develop diagnostic techniques, procedures, and AI-assisted tools that automate diagnosis for technicians, fleet operators, and remote support. You will co-own development of Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), smart diagnostic decision trees, in-vehicle service UI, vehicle self-test / commissioning routines (oil service, pump configuration, rotor / offset learn, controller clone / restore), and technician-facing repair guidance * Build diagnostic software, automation scripts, and fleet telemetry / analysis pipelines (Python + modern data stacks) that scale across passenger vehicles and unsupervised robotaxis * Define on-board diagnostic strategies, predictive alerts, and service-oriented behavior with firmware partners; implement where the drive unit intersects fleet uptime * Drive product improvements in hardware, firmware, and system architecture that raise reliability, lower service cost, protect robotaxi / fleet utilization, and keep new drive-unit versions serviceable from day one * Author theory-of-operation and troubleshooting documentation so global service and fleet teams can diagnose efficiently in supervised and unsupervised environments * Partner with hardware, firmware, quality, reman, and diagnostics teams on root-cause analysis; occasional travel to service sites, factories, reman, or robotaxi hubs and off-hours support for critical fleet events ## Related Videos - [Software is the New Fuel, AI the New Horsepower - Pioneering New Paths at Mercedes-Benz](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1388-software-is-the-new-fuel-ai-the-new-horsepower-pioneering-new-paths-at-mercedes-benz) - [Fault Tolerance and Consistency at Scale: Harnessing the Power of Distributed SQL Databases](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1146-fault-tolerance-and-consistency-at-scale-harnessing-the-power-of-distributed-sql-databases) - [The Gashlycrumb Tinies of AI Networking You Must Know (or Languish!)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2067-the-gashlycrumb-tinies-of-ai-networking-you-must-know-or-languish) - [Playing Pong on a shoulder press machine](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Fault Tolerance and Consistency at Scale: Harnessing the Power of Distributed SQL Databases](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1520-fault-tolerance-and-consistency-at-scale-harnessing-the-power-of-distributed-sql-databases) ## Related Articles - [How software is steering vehicle technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/515-how-software-is-steering-vehicle-technology) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard) - [Now is the time for industrialized software development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/601-now-is-the-time-for-industrialized-software-development) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline)