What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mechanical Design Engineer, Launch position at Tesla Motors, Inc.?
The Launch Engineer is the "local" or "resident" expert in the factory with respect to the product design critical-to-quality features, function, etc. As such you will be the chief problem solver in the region. This includes root cause analysis of manufacturing and field issues, hands on test design, and product design to support yield or reliability improvements. Your background is primarily mechanical, but you are also comfortable with debugging a basic circuit or writing some code. The role requires strong engineering/physics fundamentals and the tenacity to apply that to hands-on problem solving. A team player mentality is critical, as you are the design representation on the ground collaborating with our factory-based colleagues. Tesla moves quickly, so being self-motivated and disciplined is critical. You must be passionate, but direction changes quickly, so you must also be resilient, boundaryless, and ready to adapt all the while being excited to do so.
This role is for the hands-on do-it-yourself type personality wherein you take direct responsibility and direct action; be the first to jump into "driver's seat" when solving problems. You will be the main on-site contact representing the design team. You'll work in a large cross-functional manufacturing environment so you must be comfortable communicating the goals and objectives of the design team while maintaining healthy and trusting working relationships with your peers. This role requires people skills amongst the technical skills. This role requires a chameleon...a high aptitude, boundaryless "do whatever it takes" even if it's not a typical mechanical design engineer role.
What You'll Do
- Serve as local design authority for line launches, design-changes, trials, deviations/dispositions, root-cause analysis, etc.
- Think like a design-engineer: understand and uphold product function and requirements in your work
- Support and improve manufacturing
- Design fixtures and equipment to improve quality & yield, and brainstorm design, process, and equipment updates which will make the product better
- Support local supply-chain parts readiness & quality, need to wear multiple hats at times and overlap with SIE/Quality teams
- Sustaining design work including BOM changes, part revisions, drawing revisions, scrappy bench-tests to characterize part/product problems, factory or field teardowns, etc.
- Support the field service team with issue identification, root cause analysis, and resolution of field issues
What You'll Bring
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
- Minimum 5 years of experience as a design, process, or manufacturing engineer, preferably in automotive
- Strong Engineering fundamentalsin heat transfer, fluids, mechanics, and electronics
- Proficiency in CAD modeling. CATIA V5/V6 experience a plus but not mandatory
- Proficiency with statistics and data analysis
- Demonstrated hands-on abilities (e.g. machine shop skills, technical hobbies/projects, etc.)
- Preferred experience with various manufacturing processes such as plastic injection molding, metal stamping, thermoforming, welding/brazing, plating, heat treating, and bonding
Compensation and Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:
- Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
- Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
- Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
- Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible Aetna medical plan with HSA
- Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
- Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
- Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
- Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
- Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
- Tesla Babies program
- Commuter benefits
- Employee discounts and perks program
Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.