Zion DENG

Automation Engineer with 4+ years of experience at Tesla, specializing in industrial robotics and industrial automation applications. Skilled in Python-based development for automation systems. Holds an M.S. in Robotics from UC Berkeley.

Tesla – Core Automation Engineering

Controls Engineer · 07/2022 – Present
Associate Controls Engineer · 06/2021 – 06/2022

Core contributor to Tesla Lithium Platform for full automation solutions
Contributor to Tesla Standard systems and igntion platforms for advanced manufacturing.
Design and develop various automation production lines and robot applications.

Lithium Platform Core Developer

Core contributor to a factory automation platform; developed critical features including code review automation, robot file transfer via FTP, and interlock logic checking.
Accelerated automation workflows using C# and React; reduced costs by integrating TIA Openness for PLC programming automation.
Deployed full CN version with adaption to manufacturing environment and network separations.

Tesla Ignition pylib contributor

Contributed to Ignition standard library for core APIs used in NE42 megapack
built full test environment and rapid function development with interaction with facturing systems
optimized tracing for data transactions and Jython environment issues deep dive

TS-ASRS V2 – Tesla Standard warehouse system

Designed and developed Tesla’s standard ASRS for warehouse inventory management.
Built entirely in Python with asyncio backend, Dash frontend, Flask API server, and SSO integration.
Delivered a full testing suite, simulation environment, and stable production deployment with active issue tracking.

MFSH Qbert Project Lead

Led controls development for the Qbert project from design through production ramp-up.
Designed and deployed custom control functions including full-line data traceability, production decision logic, and queue-based job broadcasting.
Engineered high-speed, high-precision non-stopper conveyor systems for heavy-duty workpieces (>1.8 tons) with positioning accuracy <3mm and system latency <5ms.
Implemented Fanuc IRvision for busbar screw hole positioning with <2mm accuracy.
Integrated UR robots with Cognex vision systems for automated tasks including hipot testing and screw driving.

GFTX GA1 Model Y – Factory Rebuild

Played a key role in a complete factory rebuild completed in 23 days; responsible for controls in Final 1 and Final 2 assembly areas.
Supported virtual commissioning, PLC program refactoring, connection system upgrades, robot buyoffs, and production ramp-up.
Developed software tools for AGV monitoring, PLC parameter validation, and batch download automation using TIA Openness.

Tesseract Cell Unpack Station

Automated a manual unpacking and loading station using Fanuc robots with integrated vision in two weeks.
Developed stack management functions with full traceability for cell carriers across the station.

4DU-EOL – Drive Unit End-of-Line Testing

Developed control and testing systems for drive unit validation.
Enforced Tesla standards for control logic, safety protocols, and programming style.
Implemented PLC API integration, user access management, pallet tracking with databases, and file storage/transfer.
Collaborated with vendors on spin and dynamometer testing; integrated laser and marking systems.

DU-Pilot – Mini Assembly Line

Designed controls for a compact drive unit assembly line.
Managed pressing operations for input, output, and intergear shafts; assembled stators, rotors, and motors into complete drive units.
Implemented closed-loop PID control for motor assembly, achieving ±0.1mm positioning accuracy.

Education

University of California, Berkeley
M.Eng. in Robotics and Autonomous Systems · 08/2020 – 05/2021
GPA: 3.92/4.0
Core Courses: Advanced Control Systems, Experimental Advanced Control Design, Hybrid Systems and Intelligent Control

Nanjing Agricultural University
B.Eng. in Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation · 09/2016 – 06/2020
GPA: 3.91/4.5 · Rank: 1/58
Core Courses: Advanced Mathematics, Engineering Graphics, Theory of Machines and Mechanisms, Digital Modeling, Mechanical Design, Mechatronics Technology

Academic Projects

Capstone Project: Robotics at Home · 09/2020 – 05/2021
Software Development Lead

Designed and implemented system architecture for a home service robot.
Integrated YOLOv5 on Raspberry Pi and NVIDIA Jetson for real-time object detection (FPS ≥ 15).
Developed DQN-based path planning with obstacle avoidance (94% success rate).

Advanced Control Design: Autonomous Drone Racing · 10/2020 – 11/2020
Team Member

Modeled drone dynamics with cost and system constraints.
Proposed a Learning Model Predictive Control (LMPC) framework for autonomous racing.
Simulated and validated control strategies in Python.

Graduation Project: IoT System for Intelligent Electric Micro-Tiller · 11/2019 – 05/2020

Designed an IoT system using Raspberry Pi, SenseHat, and PyTorch.
Developed a companion mobile app and optimized neural network accuracy to 90%.
Recognized as Outstanding Individual Thesis and Outstanding Team Thesis.

Greenhouse Think Tank Service System – Shedyou Technology · 03/2018 – 05/2019
Key Team Member

Built an Android app for SQL database integration, real-time data acquisition, and visualization.
Applied deep learning for crop recommendation, pest/disease warning, and water/fertilizer ratio optimization.

Rice Disease Detection System Based on Android Image Recognition · 03/2018 – 05/2019
Team Leader

Processed rice blast images using MATLAB; classified disease severity with BP, SVM-BP, and CNN models.
Integrated stepwise regression for disease level classification.
Delivered a fully functional Android interface for field use.

Publications & Patents

Maohua Xiao, Ziang Deng, You Ma, et al. “Ratings of Rice Leaf Blast Disease Based on Image Processing and Stepwise Regression.” Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2019.
Maohua Xiao, You Ma, Zhixiang Feng, Ziang Deng, et al. “Rice Blast Recognition Based on Principal Component Analysis and Neural Network.” Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2018.
Jingjing Kang, You Ma, Maohua Xiao, Zhixiang Feng, Ziang Deng, Sanqin Zhao. “Rice Blast Recognition Based on Image Processing and BP Neural Network.” International Agricultural Engineering Journal, 2018.
Maohua Xiao, You Ma, Ziang Deng, et al. “A Method for Rice Blast Identification Based on Aerial Field Image.” Patent Application No.: 2021071900616710, 2021.

Internship Experience

Nanjing Seeta Tech – Algorithm Intern, New Retail Department · 07/2019 – 08/2019

Designed an Android-based food plate detection and recognition system.
Deployed deep learning models (YOLO, ReID) on an NPU-enabled development board.
Reduced inference time per image from 1.8s to 0.5s through model optimization.

Awards & Honors

Award	Prize	Year
National Scholarship	Top 1/60	2017
Kyoto International Entrepreneurship Contest for University Students	First Prize	2019
Outstanding Graduation Team Thesis (Jiangsu Province)	Extraordinary	2020
Chuangxing Cup Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition	First Prize	2018
Jiangsu Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Creative Competition	First Prize	2018
Jiangsu College Students’ Entrepreneurship Competition	Silver Award	2018
East China College Students CAD Application Skills Competition	Third Prize	2018
National English Competition for College Students	Third Prize	2018
National Intelligent Agricultural Equipment Innovation Competition	Second Prize	2017
Jiangsu Higher Mathematics Competition	Second Prize	2017