What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Power Generation Development Engineer position at Tesla Motors, Inc.?
What to Expect
What You'll Do
What You'll Bring
Compensation and Benefits
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.
The Staff Generation Development Engineer owns the full lifecycle of large-scale natural gas power generation projects - from concept and detailed design through procurement, construction quality assurance, commissioning, and long-term operational oversight. This role delivers behind-the-meter and grid-connected generation capacity supporting Tesla manufacturing and energy operations, with deep technical ownership across combustion turbine, steam turbine, steam boiler, simple cycle, and combined cycle technologies, plus balance-of-plant (BOP) systems. Candidates should expect a fast-paced environment with high accountability, frequent OEM/EPC interface, field time at construction and operating sites, and direct ownership of technical outcomes from first fire through commercial operation and ongoing reliability.
What You'll Do
- Lead front-end and detailed engineering for simple cycle, combined cycle, steam turbine, and steam boiler generation facilities from greenfield concept through issued-for-construction packages, including heat balances, P&IDs, PFDs, general arrangements, electrical one-lines, protection schemes, and control architectures
- Evaluate, select, and size major equipment and full balance-of-plant systems - combustion turbines, steam turbines, HRSGs, boilers, generators, transformers, fuel gas, water/steam cycle, cooling, condensate/feedwater, compressed air, fire protection, HVAC, chemical feed, and wastewater - including ASME B31.1 steam generation, distribution, and user systems
- Perform and oversee thermodynamic performance modeling, emissions estimates, water balances, and plant optimization studies; prepare Owner's specifications, data sheets, scopes of work, RFPs, and technical bid evaluations for OEMs and EPC contractors
- Lead technical procurement and OEM/EPC interface management through design reviews, hold points, change control, deviation resolution, and award recommendations for major equipment and BOP packages
- Witness and approve FATs and SATs for turbines, generators, HRSGs, switchgear, transformers, DCS, and critical BOP skids, including domestic and international travel
- Establish and enforce QA/QC across design, fabrication, construction, and commissioning; review ITPs, welding procedures, NDE, and pressure test packages; provide field engineering support for RFIs, NCRs, mechanical completion, system turnover, and pre-commissioning readiness
- Own commissioning and startup through first-fire, steam blows, turbine roll, synchronization, load ramp, and reliability runs; lead or oversee ASME PTC performance testing and emissions compliance demonstration
- Serve as technical owner for operating generation assets, including performance monitoring, reliability improvement, outage support, major inspections, retrofits, and development of operating envelopes and technical procedures
- Ensure compliance with ASME BPVC, B31.1, B31.3, PTC, NFPA, IEEE, and API; applyNERC/FERC generator owner/operator requirements where facilities export to the grid or include offsite power distribution and interconnection; apply ERCOT protocols and reliability expectations for Texas generation and interconnection
- Support air, water, building, and interconnection permitting with technical inputs; coordinate fuel gas, water, electrical, and environmental interfaces; mentor engineers and set generation technical standards across Tesla sites
What You'll Bring
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience
- Minimum of 15 years of progressive engineering experience in design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and/or operation of large-scale natural gas and/or steam power generation facilities (Staff / Senior Staff level)
- Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of generation projects from concept through commercial operation - spanning design, procurement, QA/QC, commissioning, and operational support
- Deep expertise across combustion turbine (simple cycle), combined cycle (CCGT), steam turbine, and steam boiler configurations, plus strong balance-of-plant experience (fuel gas, HRSG/steam cycle, feedwater/condensate, cooling, water treatment, compressed air, fire protection, chemical feed, and auxiliary power)
- Familiarity with ASME B31.1 steam generation, distribution, and user systems, including design, specification, construction oversight, and code compliance
- Familiarity with NERC- and FERC-regulated generation facilities when exporting power to the grid or operating offsite power distribution and interconnection facilities; familiarity with ERCOT requirements, interconnection practices, and reliability expectations for high-availability generation in Texas
- Proven ability to write specifications, lead OEM/EPC bid evaluations, and manage technical interfaces with major equipment vendors (e.g., GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, and equivalent BOP suppliers)
- Hands-on commissioning and startup experience including first-fire, performance testing, punch-list closure, and turnover to operations; working knowledge of ASME BPVC, B31.1, B31.3, PTC, NFPA 85/850, and IEEE protection practices
- Proficiency with a substantial subset of generation engineering tools: Thermoflow (GT PRO/MASTER, STEAM PRO/MASTER, THERMOFLEX, PEACE), GateCycle, or EBSILON; AutoCAD/Plant 3D, SmartPlant, AVEVA, Navisworks, Bluebeam; CAESAR II, PIPE-FLO or AFT; ETAP, SKM, or EasyPower; and familiarity with major DCS platforms (e.g., Emerson Ovation/DeltaV, GE Mark VIe, Siemens T3000, ABB 800xA) and plant historians (e.g., OSIsoft/AVEVA PI)
- Based in or willing to relocate to Houston, TX or Austin, TX; willing to travel domestically and internationally, around 25% of the time, for FATs, construction, commissioning, and ops support; strong communication skills with executives, OEMs, and EPCs; PE license preferred
Compensation and Benefits
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 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.