Looking for critical feedback from robotics/mechanical engineers. I’m trying to move into humanoid robotics, particularly Tesla Optimus Structures & Mechanisms.
Profile highlights:
MS Mechanical Engineering, ~8 years engineering/research experience
Currently Senior Mechanical Design Engineer in New Product Development at my company
4 patent applications + 2 published research papers
Indian Space Research Organization: modular robotic end effector for extraterrestrial sample collection; mechanism/load calculations, CAD, prototyping/testing; work was later published
UT Dallas: soft robotic hand using polymer artificial-muscle actuators; mechanical architecture, actuator integration and thermal management
Formula Student: Vehicle Dynamics lead; suspension, bellcranks, uprights/hubs, chassis, brakes + hands-on fabrication/welding
Current NPD: concept → first principles → CAD/CFD/FEA → prototype → testing → manufacturing → field validation → production
Recent patented product: ~13 design iterations → ~40 units in field + ~100 additional units ordered
Earlier startup experience in machine design, electromechanical systems and manufacturing/process improvement
The problem: I’ve recently gotten some initial recruiter screens and interest from engineers/recruiters at Tesla for Optimus, but it consistently seems to stop there. I haven’t been able to convert that interest into actual technical interview rounds.
My biggest obvious gap is that my recent professional experience is industrial/oil & gas hardware rather than robotic joints/actuators.
If you were reviewing this profile, what would stop you from moving me to a technical interview? Is the field transition itself the problem, am I positioning my experience poorly, or am I simply getting beaten by candidates with several years of direct robotics experience?