Full-Time
Manufacturing Development Engineer
Updated on 9/12/2026
Tesla
10,001+ employees
EVs and integrated renewable energy solutions
No salary listed
Buffalo, NY, USA
In Person
Bachelor's, Master's
 Manufacturing & Process Engineering (1) |
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- A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or equivalent demonstrated experience in automation system development.
- Three to seven years of hands-on experience designing and implementing industrial automation systems.
- Experience with programmable logic controller programming, including Siemens TIA Portal and Allen-Bradley Studio 5000.
- Experience developing human-machine interfaces using Proface, WinCC, or Ignition.
- Experience with industrial communication protocols including PROFINET and Ethernet/IP.
- Experience creating detailed electrical and fluid schematics using EPLAN or equivalent systems.
- Experience programming and integrating industrial robots, specifically FANUC RoboGuide or similar platforms.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks for three-dimensional part and assembly design and two-dimensional drawings using geometric dimensioning and tolerancing principles.
- Ability to rapidly prototype automation solutions using three-dimensional printing, modular components, and first-principles thinking.
- Experience leading large-scale automation capital equipment projects from conception through implementation.
- Experience using Jira to manage timelines, budgets, and cross-functional teams.
- Experience applying Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma methodologies, and 8D problem-solving to optimize automated production systems and improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness.
- Expertise implementing machine vision systems, including Keyence and iRVision, sensors, and feedback control systems.
- Ability to develop technical specifications, present complex automation concepts to stakeholders, and create comprehensive manufacturing-system documentation.
- Ability to work across multiple projects and cross-functional teams and independently achieve results with minimal supervision.
- Lead the conceptualization, design, and implementation of automated manufacturing solutions integrating industrial robotics, vision systems, and precision motion control.
- Architect complete automation ecosystems for reliability and scalability.
- Develop integrated electrical controls using Siemens or Allen-Bradley programmable logic controllers, communication protocols, and human-machine interfaces with real-time monitoring capabilities.
- Use data sources to quantitatively evaluate system performance.
- Program and integrate robotic systems to improve automation capabilities and production efficiency.
- Create three-dimensional parts and assemblies and two-dimensional drawings using geometric dimensioning and tolerancing principles.
- Provide Design for Manufacturing feedback to enhance automation capabilities.
- Perform Product and Manufacturing Process Failure Mode Analysis and Design Failure Mode Analysis.
- Set goals, track deliverables, identify risks, and drive mitigations across project stages.
- Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources while executing multiple programs simultaneously.
- Develop processes and systems needed for teams to succeed.
- Analyze and optimize equipment cycle times across low-, medium-, and high-volume manufacturing processes.
- Balance automation based on return on investment, strategize material flow, and ensure adequate work-in-process buffering for production uptime.
- Create detailed electrical and fluid schematics, manufacturing bills of material and engineering bills of material, and manuals defining preventive maintenance, spare-parts consumption, and troubleshooting.
- Work with Environment, Health, and Safety teams to review equipment requirements, compile risk assessments, and integrate safety devices into automated manufacturing stations while adhering to electrical safety standards.
- Create requests for quotation with procurement teams and manage suppliers from specification through installation.
- Lead factory and site acceptance testing for automated equipment.
Tesla designs and sells electric vehicles and renewable energy products. Its cars (Model S, 3, X, Y, and Roadster) run on battery power, with a semi-autonomous Autopilot driving system and a global network of fast-charging stations called Superchargers. The company also provides solar panels, Solar Roof, and energy storage products (Powerwall, Powerpack, Megapack) to generate and store clean energy for homes and businesses. Tesla operates with a vertically integrated model, manufacturing key components (batteries, drivetrains) and selling directly to customers via its website and stores, while earning revenue from vehicle and energy product sales and regulatory credits. Its goal is to speed up the world’s transition to sustainable energy by combining mobility and energy solutions in one ecosystem.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Austin, Texas
Founded
2003
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Tesla says FSD recorded 4.1 times fewer collisions across Europe in 2026.
- Cybercab fleet reached roughly 1,000 Austin vehicles, accelerating robotaxi revenue tests.
- Megapack and energy storage growth diversify Tesla beyond cyclical car sales.
What critics are saying
- NHTSA opened AQ26002 on September 4, 2026 over Cybercab self-certification.
- EU courts can void Tesla's FSD approvals after October 6, 2026 vote failure.
- Sales softness in August 2026, especially Portugal, shows brand demand erosion.
What makes Tesla unique
- Tesla's 2026 Cybercab launched driverless paid rides before rivals matched scale.
- Tesla's 2026 EU FSD approvals in six countries show rare regulatory momentum.
- Tesla's vertical integration spans batteries, software, vehicles, and energy storage.
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Benefits
Remote Work Options
Flexible Work Hours
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -2%1 year growth
↓ -2%2 year growth
↓ -3%Tesla claims its Full Self-Driving technology recorded 4.1 times fewer collisions than manually driven Tesla vehicles across five European countries where it is currently permitted, according to data released ahead of a crucial EU vote on wider deployment. The findings are based on over 100 million kilometres of driving data collected between April and August. FSD-equipped cars were involved in three motorway collisions and nine on non-motorway roads, compared with 137 and 490 respectively for manually driven vehicles. The Netherlands granted provisional FSD approval in April, with Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, and Lithuania following suit. Tesla also published an open-source safety dashboard it says was shared with EU regulators in April. Reuters previously reported that experts said Tesla's safety statistics relied on invalid comparisons and could give a misleading impression of the system's performance.
Goldman Sachs analysts suggest Tesla's Cybercab could provide a cost advantage in the robotaxi market, though software performance will be more critical than manufacturing costs for scaling operations. Tesla held a Cybercab launch event in Austin on 3 September and has completed 1 million miles of unsupervised robotaxi operations. The company is seeking operators for Cybercab fleets and infrastructure. If Tesla achieves its targeted $20,000–$30,000 Cybercab cost at scale, Goldman estimates a potential $0.05–$0.30 per-mile cost advantage over competitors with upfront costs of $50,000–$100,000. However, analysts emphasise that Tesla's ability to scale rapidly across wider geographic areas depends on its artificial intelligence approach, making software a larger driver of robotaxi economics than vehicle price. Tesla has received provisional Full Self-Driving approval in the Netherlands and four other EU countries.
Gary Moss, a blind 62-year-old from Washington, says Tesla's Cybercab could help restore independence he lost when cancer took his sight five years ago. Moss, who once drove up to 40,000 miles yearly for business, now relies on others for transport. After riding the autonomous vehicle six times in Austin with his son David, Moss praised features like automatic doors and smooth driving. "I'd buy a Cybercab," he said, calling the experience "so close to being everything I need." However, gaps remain for blind users. Moss struggled to identify his vehicle amongst multiple Cybercabs and couldn't independently set destinations. He wants voice-activated ride-hailing: "If I could just say, 'Hey Siri or Grok, I need a cab,' and one showed up — I can't believe the options I'd have." Tesla made the Cybercab available to Austin's public following its launch event.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that the Cybercab's electric motor operates without rare earth metals whilst maintaining the same range as conventional motors. "This was extremely hard to achieve," Musk said on X. The motor is 18% smaller and 25% lighter than its counterparts, according to Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt. The design could help Tesla navigate potential supply chain disruptions, as China dominates the global rare-earth supply chain, particularly for permanent-magnet production. However, investor Gary Black remains critical of the Cybercab launch. "Despite efforts to control the narrative, Tesla's Cybercab event was largely a bust," he wrote on X, citing lack of detail and unanswered questions about deployment plans. Regulatory uncertainty also exists due to the vehicle's absence of traditional controls like a steering wheel and pedals.
Tesla unveiled its autonomous Cybercab at an invitation-only event in Austin on Thursday, showcasing gold-coloured two-door vehicles with butterfly doors and no steering wheel or brake pedals. The company's Cybercab lead, Eric Earley, presented the fleet whilst CEO Elon Musk did not appear. Tesla shares initially rose 7% ahead of the event but fell 6% in Friday trading after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced an investigation. Regulators are examining how Tesla self-certified the vehicles meet federal safety standards despite lacking conventional manual controls. The agency will review Tesla's certification process and technical data, particularly regarding determinations that certain federal motor vehicle safety standards are inapplicable to the Cybercab. The rollout provided few details about commercial deployment beyond plans to expand from Austin to other locations.