Mechanical Design Engineer - Cell Prototype Engineering

Job Description

Tesla’s Cell Prototype Engineering team in San Diego is 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 (supply chain, electrochemistry design, manufacturing, and quality) 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— as is 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.

Job Responsibilities

• Holistic design ownership of mechanical parts and assemblies for in-house cylindrical 4680 cell and beyond (initial concept through development, factory launch, and ramp)
• Generate design innovations that expand the limits of lithium-ion cell performance, cost, and safety
• Employ 1st principles analysis and empirical testing to rapidly evaluate concepts and determine which to accelerate and which to retire
• Own prototyping, basic testing, and analysis (support advanced testing and analysis)
• Lead multi-disciplinary collaborations across electrochemistry design, CAE, supply chain, quality, manufacturing, qualification, and new product introduction
• Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions
• Author clear technical documentation and deliver live presentations
• Participate in component sourcing and supplier engineering relationships
• Occasional travel to Tesla factories, satellite team sites, and suppliers (domestic / international as needed)

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Engineering Physics, or equivalent experience
• Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling (CATIA V5/V6 experience is a plus)
• Foundational knowledge in GD&T and tolerance analysis (proficiency is a plus)
• The ability to apply fundamentals of solid mechanics, heat transfer, and materials science to define and solve complex problems
• Familiarity with properties and applications of common engineering metals and polymers
• Experience designing for relevant processes such as stamping, deep drawing, plastic injection molding, machining, and metal welding
• Hands-on prototyping experience: sourcing, building, and testing your ideas
• Proficiency with experimental design and setup, data acquisition, analysis
• The ability to clearly communicate complex technical information to a broad audience
• High agency mindset: seek out high impact problems, engage stakeholders, and champion solutions