Tesla Inc. is hiring over a dozen Autopilot and artificial intelligence positions, marking its initial sign of workforce expansion following its weeks of layoffs.
Tesla's Massive Overhaul
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on April 15 that the company would lay off over 10% of its global workforce to streamline operations and cut overhead costs as it strives to recover from substantial revenue declines during the first quarter of 2024.
The first round of layoffs affecting Bay Area employees is scheduled to begin on June 14, followed by a second round on June 20. Each round is expected to take approximately two weeks to be fully executed. While the timing of when workers will be informed about their employment status remains uncertain, some may already be aware of their situation.
Tesla's Open Positions in Autopilot and Robotics Division
The company's career page displayed 17 job openings in the San Francisco area under its Autopilot & Robotics division as of May 23. It mainly focuses on engineering for Tesla's driver-assistance projects, with two positions specifically for AI research. Amid widespread job cuts expected to affect at least 10% of the company and extend through June, Tesla's career site has been notably sparse. In recent weeks, only three openings were listed for a manufacturing development program available in Texas, California, and Nevada. In addition to the roles based in Palo Alto, California, Tesla also advertised several positions in various states linked to a service center training program.
The Growing Competition of EV, Robotics and AI Engineers
Tesla CEO Elon Musk initiated the job cuts mainly due to a recent decline in electric vehicle sales, which has impacted the broader auto industry. Alongside reducing staff, Musk intensified his efforts in developing a robotaxi, as he now primarily sees Tesla as an AI, robotics, and sustainable energy company. During a remote appearance at the VivaTech conference in Paris on May 23, the CEO mostly sidestepped questions about introducing a low-cost electric vehicle to the market.
Before the layoffs, Musk also asserted in a series of posts on X that competitor OpenAI had been aggressively recruiting Tesla engineers. Tesla had to raise compensation for its AI engineering team, which he stated comprised over 200 excellent engineers.
The new Autopilot and robotics job postings include salary estimates ranging from $104,000 to $360,000 per year, in addition to cash and stock awards and benefits.
Tesla's Contradicting Roadmap
Tesla currently offers a product called Full Self-Driving, which requires users to keep their hands on the steering wheel and remain attentive to the road. While Musk has consistently promised that cars will soon achieve complete autonomy, he has also admitted that perfecting the technology has proven more challenging than initially anticipated.
Musk has also changed direction after dismissing senior director Rebecca Tinucci and her entire 500-person EV charging team, stating that the company remains dedicated to investing well over five hundred million dollars to expand its flagship network of Superchargers.
