Senior Technical Program Manager - Test Systems Engineering

Job Description

The R&D Test Systems Engineering team is at the forefront of Tesla's mission to create a future of amazing abundance where pioneering technology is accessible, scalable, and built to last. We do this by identifying, designing, building, and deploying next-generation test solutions that compress product development cycles, eliminate cost and complexity, and unlock deployment speed at scale. R&D TSE is one of the most uniquely positioned teams at Tesla that touches every dimension of the business: vehicles, energy, and robotics.

The Technical Project Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for the TSE team, owning internal customer relationships end-to-end and driving complex technical programs from definition to delivery. This role operates at the intersection of program management, procurement, and operational excellence, requiring the ability to define and govern project scope (cost, schedule, technical), facilitate high-performing cross-functional teams, and execute relentlessly against aligned plans. The right candidate will flex fluidly between leading complex technical projects and hands-on operational execution, unblocking projects as needed such as setting up project-specific supply chains, adhoc logistics and managing full-cycle BoM procurement via funding approvals, purchasing and tracking cost.

The expectation is to apply first principles thinking to every problem, lead through influence, and build scalable organizational processes. You will leverage AI-powered tools and workflows to drive automation, identify risks early, accelerate cross-functional reporting, and continuously improve efficiency across the project/program lifecycle. You must be a relentless communicator - written and verbal - with the discipline to track every open action, ensure engineering builds are planned, purchase orders are current, and parts are on time. Prioritization under ambiguity, rigorous risk analysis, and proactive mitigation are must-have skills for success in this role.

Proficiency with Confluence, SharePoint, and JIRA are expected. Comfort with AI-powered tools to automate reporting and identify blockers early is a plus. This role is a high-leverage entry point into Tesla's most demanding technical programs, pressure-tested against real complexity, at real speed, with a clear path to leading projects at scale.

Job Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end project execution across requirements, design, procurement, build, commissioning, and sustaining, partnering closely with stakeholders to track and report progress
• Serve as TSE's primary point of contact for internal and external customers; define project scope, CAPEX, and schedule, and drive resource alignment across cross-functional teams
• Orchestrate information flow across facilities, construction, drive systems, reliability test, motor design engineering, and external suppliers, removing blockers before they become delays
• Balance competing priorities across a high volume of simultaneous programs spanning Vehicle, Energy, and Robotics domains
• Lead sprint planning, maintain JIRA dashboards, and leverage AI-assisted reporting tools to identify risks early, track progress, and keep stakeholders aligned in real time
• Develop and enforce best practices for JIRA workflows, change management, and cross-team communication, building scalable processes that outlast any single program
• Own and manage procurement cycles, logistics coordination for material between R&D TSE and key suppliers, ensuring builds are never blocked waiting on parts
• Continuously evaluate and improve tooling and workflows (Confluence, SharePoint, JIRA, PowerPoint) to drive efficiency and reduce manual overhead across the program lifecycle
  

Job Requirements

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or related engineering discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience
• 5+ years of project management experience across mechanical, electrical, and/or software systems in a fast-paced R&D or product development environment
• Proven track record of taking conceptual designs through to launched products - on time, under pressure, with competing priorities
• Proficiency in JIRA, Confluence, SharePoint, and PowerPoint; comfort adopting AI-powered tools to automate reporting and accelerate decision-making
• Hands-on procurement experience - BoM ownership, material tracking, PO management, inventory, and relentless follow-through on open actions
• Self-driven, adaptable, and resourceful - someone who thrives in ambiguity, works independently across multiple programs, and solves problems by collaboration with right stakeholders
• Exceptional communicator - written, verbal, and visual, with the executive presence to align cross-functional teams and present confidently to leadership
• Working knowledge of product development lifecycle with a focus on mechanical design, rotating systems (rotor dynamics, bearings, seals, lubrication), and high-voltage electrical principles
• Working knowledge and experience of full product development lifecycle, with mechanically and electrically complex systems with embedded software integration
• Basic understanding of rotating systems, including rotor dynamics, bearings, seals, and lubrication