Sr. Sensor Development Engineer, Radar Perception System

Senior Sensor Development EngineerThe Sensing Hardware Team is seeking a Senior Sensor Development Engineer specializing in radar perception system architecture and design, with 3+ years of industry experience in RF, radar, or wireless systems.

The role will primarily focus on developing and integrating radar-based in-cabin sensing technologies for safety and wellness features.You will be the technical anchor for the system: defining the radar system architecture, driving cross-functional decisions that bridge hardware, signal processing, and software, and translating complex system interactions into clear, safety-first requirements. You will drive designs from concept through production, defining validation strategies, integrating the sensor into Tesla vehicles, and running system tests to understand how configuration, hardware, and software changes affect overall performance.ResponsibilitiesSystem architecture: define the radar sensing system architecture (RF front end, antenna and radome, processing chain, interfaces, and power) and document it as block diagrams, functional and performance requirements, and hardware/software interface definitionsSpecification: distill sensor product requirements for different platforms into constraints and actionable engineering system specsSignal processing: define and evaluate the radar DSP chain (waveform/chirp configuration, range/Doppler/angle processing, detection) with the software and algorithm teams, and trade off performance against compute, power, and costIntegration: integrate, test, and validate new sensor hardware and software on vehicles, with a focus on radar and wireless systemsDebug: triage sensor integration issues found in early vehicle development, identify the root cause, and implement and validate fixesCollaboration: lead cross-functional sensor design discussions with electrical, software, antenna, EMC, reliability, thermal, mechanical, supply chain, and manufacturing teamsPrototyping: support early sensor prototypes to de-risk new technologies and architecture choicesValidation: drive RF system validation on new platforms, including lab setups for EE and RF metrics and in-vehicle engineering tests; own a test plan whose milestones de-risk product and feature deployment and align with the program timelineQualification: ensure the hardware meets design criteria across environments and regulations, working with the reliability, test, and homologation teams, and drive suppliers to meet Tesla's performance and timeline targetsProduction: work with manufacturing and test teams and suppliers to reach high-volume production with high yieldRequirementsHands-on experience with radar or wireless systems, including debugging at the conducted and radiated level; knowledge of multi-radio coexistence and RF desense mitigation is a plusExperience in system architecture and design: turning product requirements into block diagrams, requirements, and interface definitions, and making explicit trade-offs across hardware, software, and costSolid radar signal processing (DSP) fundamentals (ideally mmWave FMCW): chirp design, range/Doppler/angle estimation, detection, and the effect of radome and installation on performanceStrong hardware and software fundamentals: able to read schematics, bridge them to firmware architecture, and bring up and troubleshoot boards with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, multimeters, spectrum/network analyzers)Strong knowledge of one or more embedded-system topics (microcontroller architecture, SPI/I2C, CAN/Ethernet, power conversion, including DC-DC converters and LDOs) and the ability to quickly pick up the othersProficiency in Python and/or MATLAB for test automation, data analysis, and visualization; able to build tools, scripts, or parsers that speed up bring-up and validationKnowledge of RF hardware design or antenna characterizationExperience with safety-critical systems, functional safety concepts, or automotive validation processes, and with high-volume production alongside suppliers and contract manufacturers, is a plusDemonstrated use of SI tools for engineering work, such as requirement generation, code assistance, and data synthesisSystematic problem-solving and explicit risk-based decision making; proven cross-functional leadership through influence and judgment, with excellent written and verbal communicationCompensation & BenefitsBenefitsAlong with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deductionFamily-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefitsDental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contributionCompany Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSAHealthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefitsCompany paid Basic Life, AD&DShort-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)Employee Assistance ProgramSick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid HolidaysBack-up childcare and parenting support resourcesVoluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insuranceWeight Loss and Tobacco Cessation ProgramsTesla Babies programCommuter benefitsEmployee discounts and perks programEarned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)Expected Compensation$100,000 - $282,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefitsPay 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.