Manager Production Engineering Cell Assembly

Job Description

Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg marks a defining moment in Europe for Tesla's mission of accelerating the world's transition to sustainable energy. Here we will launch revolutionary products at massive scale, using extraordinary speed, innovation, and efficiency. Our employees ensure we achieve our goals — and we welcome you to help write the next chapter of our success story.

Tesla is looking for a highly motivated Manager, Production Engineering Cell Assembly, who will serve as the technical and organizational leader for all engineering and maintenance functions within the Cell Assembly shop at GFBB Cell Manufacturing. Reporting directly to the Sr. Manager, Cell Manufacturing, you will own Process, Equipment, and Controls Engineering as well as Maintenance across a complex, high-volume assembly operation.

You will define and build the organizational structure beneath you, lead a multi-level engineering team, and work in close day-to-day partnership with the Operations Manager, Cell Assembly to ensure process stability, equipment reliability, and production performance. Manufacturing Engineering owns tool development and commissioning and hands equipment over to your team at a defined acceptance gate — from that point, Production Engineering owns the process. This is a high-impact role at the heart of cell production, requiring deep technical leadership, a systematic approach to operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to safety.

Job Responsibilities

• Define and build the engineering and maintenance organization for Cell Assembly - own hiring, development, and performance management across all experience levels of engineers and maintenance professionals
• Own engineering performance across the Cell Assembly shop — driving OEE improvements, yield optimization, and process stability across all assembly processes through structured, data-driven problem-solving
• Work in close day-to-day partnership with the Operations Manager, Cell Assembly — aligning engineering priorities with operational needs, providing rapid technical response to production issues, and ensuring that engineering decisions are grounded in shop floor realities
• Lead Maintenance as a systematic, proactive function — establishing and driving Preventive Maintenance (PM) programs, MTBF and MTTR tracking, spare parts strategy, and escalation frameworks from day one; build a maintenance organization structured to support continuous 24/5 operations with the capacity to scale to 24/7
• Ensure engineering teams are organized to deliver consistent technical depth and fast response across all operating shifts in a 24/5 operation scaling to 24/7 — structure Process, Equipment, and Controls Engineering in a way that guarantees technical expertise and rapid response to production issues at any hour
• Champion a safety-first culture across all engineering and maintenance functions — with particular emphasis on processes involving hazardous materials; ensure rigorous process controls, containment measures, and safe working practices are embedded at every level of the organization
• Own and drive the tool acceptance and handover process into series production — define and enforce acceptance criteria, validate process capability at handover gate, and manage the transition from commissioning to stable, high-volume production
• Own the shop's Process FMEA discipline — driving systematic risk identification, prioritization, and closure across all process and equipment domains; embed a zero-defect mindset and ensure lessons learned are consistently fed back into updated standards and documentation
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across the Cell Manufacturing value chain — collaborating closely with upstream and downstream partners to ensure seamless material flow, aligned priorities, and rapid resolution of cross-functional issues
• Partner with Quality, EHS, and Supply Chain to resolve quality concerns and support new product introductions
• Own and drive shop compliance — ensuring adherence to all regulatory, environmental, health, safety, and internal policy requirements, act as the accountable leader for audit readiness and corrective action closure
• Translate strategic direction into clear engineering priorities and team actions; represent the Cell Assembly engineering function to senior leadership with clarity and confidence

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Industrial Engineering — or equivalent with demonstrated exceptional ability
• 7–12 years of experience in high-volume manufacturing, with direct and indirect leadership of multi-disciplinary engineering and maintenance teams
• Proven experience leading engineering teams through high-volume, high-complexity manufacturing ramps — deep understanding of assembly process physics, equipment qualification, and the quality and safety implications of complex assembly processes.
• Strong background in OEE-driven engineering — demonstrated ability to establish baselines, identify and close losses across availability, performance, and quality through structured, data-driven problem-solving in a continuous, high-throughput environment
• Proven experience leading teams systematically in a high-complexity manufacturing environment. Proven ability to structure and lead engineering and maintenance teams across continuous shift operations — ensuring consistent technical depth and fast response capability across all operating hours
• Proficiency in structured problem-solving (8D, DMAIC, or equivalent); experience applying FMEA as a live risk management tool across complex, multi-process manufacturing environments
• Exceptional relationship builder — proven ability to establish trust and credibility across functions, levels, and cultures in a new and rapidly evolving organizational environment; navigates complexity and ambiguity with confidence and fosters a collaborative, solutions-oriented working culture
• Hands-on experience with one or more of the following assembly process types: precision component joining and welding, non-destructive testing and leak detection, automated conveying and material handling, precision fluid or chemical dosing under controlled conditions, mechanical pressing and sealing operations, final inspection and quality verification, or parts cleaning and drying processes — with a strong understanding of the process control, quality, and safety implications associated with each
• Preferred industry background in one or more of the following: Semiconductor Manufacturing, Battery Cell Manufacturing, Powertrain & Electronics, Consumer Electronics Manufacturing, or Food & Beverage / Packaging / Consumer goods — candidates should bring demonstrated experience in high-volume, highly automated production environments with a strong emphasis on process precision, equipment qualification, and structured ramp execution
• Fluent in English, German is a plus (written and spoken)
• Availability to cover shifts during buy-off or severe process issues; willingness to travel internationally as