Seeking a “Data Collection Operator” to Train Humanoid Robots
Elon Musk is offering a nearly $100,000 position at Tesla for a highly unusual role: impersonating a robot. This job, formally titled “data collection operator,” is part of Musk’s ambitious plan to advance Tesla’s humanoid robot initiative, known as Optimus.
A key role in developing Optimus
The selected candidate will play a crucial role in enhancing Tesla’s Optimus program, which aims to integrate humanoid robots into everyday tasks. The job requires the operator to be mobile for up to seven hours a day while carrying around 30 pounds of equipment. Additionally, the operator will wear a motion capture suit and a VR headset, both of which could potentially induce symptoms of “VR sickness.”
The primary objective of this role is to train Optimus’ neural network, essentially the robot’s brain, ensuring it can perform tasks as intended. Tesla introduced the “Optimus Gen 2” earlier this year, with plans to use these robots internally as early as next year. “Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026,” Musk stated.
Tesla’s vision for the future of robotics
Musk’s vision for Optimus is grand. He believes these robots could take over repetitive tasks currently handled by humans, with a potential market demand reaching 10 to 20 billion units. Last month, Musk shared Tesla’s plan to ramp up production and start supplying these robots to other businesses by 2026.
In a previous event in 2021, Tesla introduced the concept of its humanoid robot, though it was initially presented by a person dressed in a robot suit. Since then, Tesla has provided updates on the development of Optimus, including a video showing the robot delicately handling an egg without breaking it.
The economic potential of Optimus
Musk has expressed that the potential of Optimus is “extremely underrated,” predicting that it will eventually represent the majority of Tesla’s long-term value. He even suggested that Optimus could be priced at “less than half of a car,” estimating a cost of around $25,000.
As of Tesla’s Q1 2024 financial update, Musk revealed that Optimus is already performing tasks within Tesla’s lab and could be operational in Tesla factories by the end of the year.
For those eager to be a part of this cutting-edge project, the $100,000 position not only offers a unique job experience but also places the successful candidate at the forefront of what could be the future of robotics.