Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Staff Battery Cell Engineer - Reliability & Modeling

Power Systems EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timePalo Alto, CA, USANo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A degree in electrochemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Hands-on lithium-ion testing, including cycle life, calendar life, and ongoing reliability testing or equivalent reliability programs.
Working knowledge of lithium iron phosphate and nickel manganese cobalt degradation and failure modes, both electrochemical and mechanical.
Ability to turn test data into models or statistical or physics-based predictions using Python, MATLAB, Abaqus, or similar tools.
Experience with cell testers, characterization of capacity, impedance, thickness and swelling, and test-method validation.
Ability to work across Cell Qualification, suppliers, and manufacturing, with clear written and verbal communication.
Bias for hardware and data, and for closing the loop from lab results to production control.

Responsibilities

Own ongoing reliability testing for vendor cell programs, including test intent, execution, data review, and escalation with suppliers and Cell Qualification.
Align ongoing reliability testing protocols, sample plans, and pass/fail criteria with Cell Qualification during program transition from new product introduction to manufacturing and production.
Drive containment and root-cause analysis when ongoing reliability testing flags capacity fade, impedance growth, swelling, or safety-relevant events.
Use ongoing reliability testing and accelerated-life data to model electrochemical cell failure modes, including solid electrolyte interphase, lithium plating, cathode fade, and impedance, and mechanical failure modes, including swelling, jelly-roll deformation, and can stress.
Turn models into early-warning metrics and reliability risk assessments for SIE, Qualification, and manufacturing and production.
Validate testers and methods for capacity, direct current internal resistance/electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, thickness and swelling, and abuse-adjacent checks so supplier and Tesla data are comparable.
Review supplier and third-party test packages against Tesla’s cell test intent.
Partner with the Cell Qualification team on cell performance, including charge capability, energy, lifetime, and degradation, and carry those learnings into manufacturing and production process controls and ramp gates.

Desired Qualifications

Vendor-cell or supplier-industrialization background, such as incoming cell quality, PPAP-style qualification, or ongoing reliability testing at a cell maker or original equipment manufacturer.
Structural modeling of cells, including swelling, can, and jelly roll, alongside electrochemistry.
Direct handoff of qualification findings into mass-production controls, plus exposure to high-volume cell manufacturing.

Category	Supply Chain
Location	Palo Alto, California
Requisition ID	287356
Type	Full-time

Job Description

<p>Battery cells are the common denominator for every Tesla product. We want team-focused employees with strong communication skills who challenge and want to be challenged, and who create and innovate. We want teammates who will thrive in a fast-paced company with real hardware and are self-motivated, disciplined, and detail oriented.</p><p>In this role you will work with Cell Qualification, suppliers, and Manufacturing / Production (MP) to push cell reliability and lifetime on vendor LFP and NMC programs. You will own ongoing reliability testing (ORT), build electrochemical and mechanical models of cell failure from that data, validate cycle life and other tester methods, and transfer qualification learnings into production.</p>

Job Responsibilities

Own ngoing Reliability Testing (ORT) for vendor cell programs (LFP and NMC): test intent, execution, data review, and escalation with suppliers and Cell Qualification
Align ORT protocols, sample plans, and pass/fail criteria with Cell Qualification as a program transition from NPI to MP
Drive containment and root cause when ORT flags capacity fade, impedance growth, swelling, or safety-relevant events
Use ORT and accelerated-life data to model cell failure modes — electrochemical (SEI, lithium plating, cathode fade, impedance) and mechanical (swelling, jelly-roll deformation, can stress)
Turn models into early-warning metrics and reliability risk assessments for SIE, Qualification, and MP
Validate testers and methods (capacity, DCIR/EIS, thickness/swelling, abuse-adjacent checks) so supplier and Tesla data are comparable
Review supplier and third-party test packages against Tesla’s cell test intent
Partner with the Cell Qualification team on cell performance (charge capability, energy, lifetime, degradation) and carry those learnings into MP process controls, and ramp gates

Job Requirements

Degree in electrochemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience
Hands-on lithium-ion testing, including cycle life, calendar life, and ORT or equivalent reliability programs
Working knowledge of LFP and NMC degradation and failure modes, both electrochemical and mechanical
Ability to turn test data into models or statistical/physics-based predictions using Python, MATLAB, Abaqus, or similar
Experience with cell testers, characterization (capacity, impedance, thickness/swelling), and test-method validation
Comfortable working across Cell Qualification, suppliers, and manufacturing, with clear written and verbal communication
Bias for hardware and data, and for closing the loop from lab result to production control
Vendor-cell or supplier-industrialization background, such as incoming cell quality, PPAP-style qualification, or ORT at a cell maker or OEM
Structural modeling of cells (swelling, can, jelly roll) alongside electrochemistry
Direct handoff of qualification findings into mass-production controls, plus exposure to high-volume cell manufacturing

About the Company

Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Tesla makes electric cars and batteries that store power for homes and utilities, and it develops self-driving software and humanoid robots. In 2023, its Model Y became the first electric vehicle to rank as the world's best-selling car. Buyers order the Model 3 sedan, Model Y SUV, or Cybertruck pickup directly from Tesla instead of through dealers, and they charge on its Supercharger fast-charging network. It also sells Megapack and Powerwall batteries, runs a robotaxi service, and charges drivers a monthly fee for self-driving software that still needs their supervision. Tesla was founded in 2003, with Elon Musk as its lead early investor and a recognized co-founder, and it is based in Austin, Texas.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Austin, TX
Founded: 2003

Recently Posted Jobs

Explore more opportunities at Tesla

See more jobs