Tesla has opened roughly 110 job listings for its Optimus humanoid robot program, signaling aggressive staffing as production nears. The company is preparing to unveil a production-intent prototype in early 2026. Elon Musk shared detailed timelines during the Q3 2025 earnings call, highlighting advancements in the robot's design.
Tesla's push into humanoid robotics is accelerating, with the company now listing about 110 open positions directly related to its Optimus program on its Careers page. These roles cover hardware, software, AI, manufacturing, and robotics, indicating Optimus has evolved from an experimental project into a core product line that could challenge Tesla's automotive dominance in the future.
During Tesla's Q3 2025 earnings call, Elon Musk outlined concrete milestones for Optimus version 3. "The new hand is an incredible piece of engineering," Musk said. "We’ll have a production-intent prototype ready to show in February or March 2026. Then we’re going to build a one-million-unit production line, with a hopeful production start by the end of 2026." He added that the robot's lifelike appearance would be so convincing that "you’ll need to poke it to believe it’s an actual robot."
Supporting this timeline, Tesla broke ground last month on a new Optimus manufacturing facility at Gigafactory Texas. Pilot production of Optimus V3 units is already underway at the Fremont Factory, aiming to scale to a one-million-unit annual line by late 2026. The Giga Texas facility is slated to launch in 2027, targeting a long-term capacity of 10 million robots per year.
Tesla has bolstered its team by recruiting AI engineer Yilun Chen from Apple. Earlier this month, the company released footage of an Optimus prototype jogging across a lab floor, demonstrating significant progress. This combination of hiring, infrastructure, and prototypes positions 2026 as a potential breakout year for Optimus.
