# Cindy Au > Staff Mechanical Design Engineer at Tesla Location: San Mateo, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/cindyau I am a Mechanical System Architect with 10+ years of experience delivering high-performance electromechanical systems across automotive, consumer electronics, and medical devices. I’ve led global engineering teams in the U.S., Europe, and Asia from concept through mass production, including multiple million-unit product launches. As an inventor on 18+ patents spanning edge AI compute systems, sensor integration, neural interfaces, and wireless power and data transfer, I’m passionate about building elegant, scalable, and reliable technologies that protect and expand human lives. Core Competencies: Electromechanical System Architecture , Data Analytics , Rapid Prototyping , Design for Manufacturing , Supplier Quality Management , Design Control , Risk Management , Cross-functional Leadership ## Work Experience ### Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, Vision Hardware @ Tesla Jan 2025 – Present | Palo Alto, CA ### Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, Autopilot Electronics Product Design @ Tesla Jan 2022 – Jan 2025 | Palo Alto, CA Architected next-gen thermally-optimized Ai5 compute hardware, enabling real-time perception and autonomy for Tesla’s Robotaxi platform. Led mechanical design of HW4 Autopilot & Infotainment car computers for Model 3 Highland & Model Y, successfully launched globally in 2023. Spearheaded talent acquisition and team formation for Tesla’s Autopilot Electronics Product Design team in Shanghai. ### Manager, Vehicle Controllers Mechanical Design @ Tesla Jan 2023 – Jan 2025 Managed a global team of engineers (Intern to Senior Staff) across the U.S., Germany, and China, driving end-to-end mechanical development of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) for all of Tesla vehicle platforms, most notably Robotaxi, MY, and Semi. ### Angel Investor @ Alumni Ventures Jan 2025 – Present ### Board Observer, Board of Directors @ Sunflower Mission Jan 2018 – Present | Sugar Land, Texas, United States ### Director of Technology, Board of Directors @ Sunflower Mission Jan 2021 – Jan 2024 | Sugar Land, Texas, United States ### Product Design Architect, Devices & Services @ Google Jan 2019 – Jan 2022 | Mountain View, California, United States Defined system KPIs, conducted architecture trade studies, and led JDM partnerships for ambient-computing AR devices and accessories. Led full-stack mechanical integration of multiple sensor (camera, microphone, IR LED) and user-interaction (speaker, RGB LED, antenna) technologies into compact smart home monitoring system - shipped as Indoor Wired Nest Cam in October 2021. Developed novel optical rotary encoders, dead-front displays, and textile-wrapped enclosures for next-gen low-cost consumer robotics platforms. ### Mechanical R&D Lead, Verily Life Sciences @ Google Jan 2017 – Jan 2019 | South San Francisco. California Founding mechanical engineer for a pioneering bioelectronic medicine program in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline - developed implantable neural interfaces, surgical tools, and wireless charging systems. Led mechanical design, manufacturing strategy, supply chain setup, and team formation from the ground up. Delivered Class III implantable systems with high-fidelity electrode arrays. Enabled record-time FDA clearance for in-human trials. Awarded 12 patents. ### Teaching Assistant, Stanford Product Realization Lab @ Stanford University Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 | Stanford, CA Mentored 20+ students through end-to-end mechanical design and fabrication of passion-driven projects, guiding them from concept through manufacturing. Led hands-on workshops in machining, woodworking, and rapid prototyping for over 200 undergraduate and graduate students. Maintained lab operations and upheld safety standards for a community of 1,000+ users across machining, welding, and fabrication facilities. Honored with Stanford’s Centennial Teaching Assistant Award for excellence in instruction and student impact. ### Product Design Engineer, iPhone & Apple Watch @ Apple Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | Cupertino, California Spearheaded research and prototyping of next-gen wireless power and ultra-fast data communication systems for integration into iPhone and Apple Watch platforms. Collaborated with EE/ID/Operations teams to deliver compact hardware design in constrained wearable form factors. ### Senior R&D Analyst, Internet of Things @ Accenture Research Jan 2014 – Jan 2014 | San Jose, CA Explored emerging technologies in contextual awareness, motion planning, and cloud computing for industrial robotics. Authored technology vision and built computer vision and motion planning demos showcased at two international robotics conferences. ### Product Manager @ Cognito Health Jan 2013 – Jan 2013 | Taipei, Taiwan Led competitive analysis, feature definition, and user studies for a flagship smart hospital and home health monitoring system. Designed clinical trial protocols to validate usability and clinical efficacy. ### Research Assistant, Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab @ Stanford University Jan 2012 – Jan 2012 Developed a comprehensive library of musculoskeletal simulation models to support surgical planning and robotic research. Effort helped secure a $1.8M government grant focused on predicting soldier performance and injury risk through physics-based simulation and human modeling. ## Education ### Bachelor of Science in with Distinction, Biomechanical Engineering Stanford University ### Master of Science (M.S.) in Mechanical Engineering Stanford University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/cindy-au - Portfolio: http://www.cindyau.space/ --- Source: https://flows.cv/cindyau JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/cindyau/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13