Automation Development Manager

Job Description

<p>Tesla's Optimus program is building a future of sustainable abundance — and we need a proven leader to build the team that builds the machines. As the Automation Team Leader, you'll establish and grow a high-performing, multidisciplinary automation team in Austin, Texas, from the ground up. You'll be at the center of one of the most ambitious manufacturing launches in Tesla's history, and likely the world’s, driving rapid equipment development and deployment on the Optimus production line.</p> <p>You'll hire and develop a team of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, controls engineers, technical program managers, and skilled technicians and machinists — then lead them through the fast-paced, high-stakes demands of a factory launch. Beyond Optimus, your team will design and build custom automation equipment for other areas of Tesla, creating opportunities to broaden capabilities and make a company-wide impact.</p>

Job Responsibilities

• Hire, develop, and manage a multidisciplinary team that designs, builds, programs, and upgrades custom automation equipment
• Partner with the Optimus factory and manufacturing teams to deliver rapid, high-quality equipment changes that keep the production line moving
• Manage team capacity and collaborate with other internal automation teams to efficiently share resources across programs
• Define clear expectations and drive accountability, continuously raising the bar on design quality and manufacturing solutions
• Guide the team on first-principles design concepts to develop simple, novel, robust, and cost-effective machine designs
• Establish and own aggressive project timelines and resource assignments, maintaining execution quality through frequently shifting scopes and schedules
• Build a culture of excellence by reinforcing high performance, coaching underperformance directly and constructively, and fostering a mentoring environment where engineers and technicians can grow
• Lead process improvement efforts and develop team standards and training programs in collaboration with other automation groups across Tesla
• Travel as required to support other Tesla factories and automation teams

Job Requirements

• 10+ years of hands-on experience developing custom automation equipment from concept through production
• 5+ years of people management experience leading teams of engineers and/or technicians in a technical environment
• Proven track record of developing automation equipment from a formal specification to a production-ready system
• Direct experience owning the full equipment launch cycle into a live production environment
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or equivalent), or equivalent experience