Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer, Cell Development

We're seeking top engineers to design paradigm-shifting battery cells, the heart of every Tesla product, and the biggest lever on affordable, abundant, and performant EVs for all. Our vertically integrated program is industry one-of-a-kind: the opportunity to drive architectures from the ground up, influence roadmap & full product portfolio, and master technical challenges in manufacturing at orders-of-magnitude greater volume than is typical for automotive systems.

The role requires strong 1st principles, a passion for advancing state-of-the-art, and the tenacity to ensure the success of your ideas. Our team habitually defies convention and designs to the limits of physics. You'll align inputs from multiple disciplines (electrochemistry design, equipment and controls design, and manufacturing & quality engineering) to develop new cell products, set & validate to requirements, and launch into mass production. Tesla moves fast: self-motivation, discipline, collaboration, and strong communication are critical for success, in addition to embracing ambiguity as an opportunity for defining novel directions. Your environment will include battle-proven industry experts, high-aptitude recent graduates, and open access to a wealth of domain leaders across every Tesla department.

• Holistic design ownership of mechanical parts and assemblies for in-house pouch and cylindrical cells, including initial concept through development, prototyping, launch, and ramp
• Advance and execute technologies that unlock new product performance and safety paradigms while reducing cost and mass while improving manufacturability
• Own prototyping, basic testing, and analysis
• Hands-on engagement with manufacturing process and automation development
• Lead multi-disciplinary collaborations across electrochemistry design, CAE, supply chain, quality, manufacturing, qualification, new product introduction
• Research and benchmark competitive solutions and complete DFMEA and fault tree analysis
• Define and release technical specifications (dimensional, functional, performance, and manufacturing)
• Author clear technical documentation & deliver live presentations, driving collaboration with partner teams (Pack, Vehicle, and Vendor Programs)
• Establish design tools, protocols, workflows, and documentation that improve efficiency and rigor
• Coordinate and drive response to emergent issues (validation, factory, supply, etc.), participating in component sourcing and supplier engineering relationships as needed
  

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or equivalent experience
• 3 years as a Mechanical Engineer driving design phases, requirements, and specifications in a multi-disciplinary product (battery cells is a major plus)
• Strong first-principles thinking in mechanics and heat transfer, with a quantitative, analytical mindset and a track record of successfully launched products
• Proficiency and proven/tried history in 3D CAD modeling (CATIA V5/V6 is a plus), GD&T, structural/thermal FEA, and statistical analysis
• Experience designing for high-volume and automated precision manufacturing processes (e.g., stamping, deep drawing, injection molding, heat treating, welding), including DFM and DFMEA practices
• Familiarity with properties and applications of common engineering metals and polymers and their limits
• Experience with hands-on fabrication, experiment design and setup, and data acquisition/analysis
• Exceptional ability to communicate complex information through live reporting, written documentation, and data presentation, with a disciplined approach to version control and organization
• Natural inclination to lead discussions with internal and external groups, organize and motivate teams, improve workflows, and escalate issues
• Appetite for extreme ownership, continuous improvement, and delivering results under pressure amid fast timelines, shifting requirements, and competing priorities
  

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 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

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.