Tesla will pay you $48 an hour to drive around.
Tesla has opened new job openings called Seasonal Vehicle Operator, who will be responsible for testing the company's vehicles to gather data, which will be used for development and improvement. The post for the position was found on LinkedIn.
Why would we report on something as trivial as a job posting? Unlike most companies that spend several years refining new vehicle technology, Tesla has mostly relied on the general public to do its dirty work. The American company famously made Full Self-Driving Beta (FSDB) available to a select few, which resulted in many dumb videos being posted on the internet. FSDB was later made available to everyone with a Model S, 3, X, and Y.
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It also landed Tesla in hot water with the Feds, and the full impact of the investigation will only be known in the coming months.
The temporary position suggests Tesla's test driver will be used to iron out some kinks. Thanks to the recent discovery of FSDB's “God Mode,” we know there is a more advanced version of the software with less nagging. This points to a Level 3 autonomous driving system, in which case the driver is no longer required to pay attention while driving.
It would be too risky for Tesla to launch this system to the public, so contained and controlled tests conducted by a professional would make more sense.
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The job could also be for the upcoming Model 3 facelift. We know it has been delayed, but the reasons why remain unclear. Tesla may need an experienced driver to provide some input into what is stacking up to be a really good car.
Tesla's Cybertruck also appears to be closer to production than ever and would need to undergo a rigorous testing program.
The job posting specifically mentions experience with driver assistance systems, which points to the refinement of Autopilot and FSDB being the main objectives. That would make the job relevant across the company's entire portfolio, including upcoming models.
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Keyword: Tesla No Longer Relying On Public To Be Crash Test Dummies