Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Gearbox Manufacturing Engineer - Geartrain Manufacturing Equipment

Manufacturing EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeHolzgerlingen, GermanyNo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience specifying, procuring, installing, commissioning, and qualifying production equipment and/or automation for component manufacturing lines and/or assembly cells, including RFQ ownership, supplier management, factory acceptance and site acceptance testing, and production ramp.
At least 3 years of hands-on experience in gearbox, actuator, or other precision rotary product manufacturing and/or assembly process development.
Demonstrated proficiency in precision mechanical processes, including machining and finishing precision components, press fits, bearing installation and preload, shaft stack-ups, and fastener selection.
Ability to read and apply complex mechanical drawings and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing for components and assemblies, including bearings, gears, shafts, housings, and actuators.
Experience with 3D computer-aided design for fixture and tooling design.
Familiarity with manufacturing and assembly equipment and controls, including CNC and automation cells, servo/hydraulic presses, digital torque tools, fixtures, sensors, and industrial communication protocols.

Responsibilities

Specify, design or source, procure, install, commission, and qualify equipment and automation for gearbox component manufacturing lines and assembly cells, including machining, finishing, heat treatment, metrology, CNC and automation cells, presses, automated fastening and torque systems, robotic cells, vision and traceability systems, leak and functional test stands, and process controls, from concept through production readiness.
Own equipment RFQs, supplier selection, factory acceptance and site acceptance testing, installation, integration, and commissioning of component manufacturing and assembly assets, ensuring integration with upstream and downstream processes and the production line.
Improve overall equipment effectiveness through upgrades, line balancing, automation enhancements, and continuous improvement on component manufacturing and assembly equipment, reducing downtime, changeover loss, and process variation while increasing throughput and first-pass yield.
Develop and sustain preventive and predictive maintenance programs, tooling and fixtures, and controls including programmable logic controllers, robotics, sensors, and machine vision; design and maintain error-proofing devices and process fixtures.
Troubleshoot equipment and process failures on the line, manage spare-parts strategy and critical spares inventory, and lead root-cause analysis with Quality and Design to eliminate recurring scrap, rework, and downtime drivers.
Support capacity planning and capital expenditure justification for new and upgraded component manufacturing and assembly assets; create equipment specifications, standard operating procedures, maintenance plans, and training materials, and train operators, technicians, and engineers for production handoff.
Ensure safety compliance and environmental, health, and safety readiness for manufacturing and assembly equipment and processes, including machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and safe handling of coolants, greases, adhesives, and press systems; integrate new assets into existing processes and production lines.
Own process performance and track yield, cycle time, scrap and rework, overall equipment effectiveness, and equipment uptime; publish status, drive corrective actions, and continuously raise process capability.
Own end-to-end process development for component manufacturing and gearbox assembly from prototype to production, defining sequences, work instructions, process flow, and critical parameters such as machining and finishing targets, press forces, bearing preload, torque and angle, adhesives and sealants, and grease fill, and locking these into equipment recipes, controls, and validation plans; scale technologies to high-volume automotive-level lines.
Partner with the organization on design for manufacturability and design for assembly development for components and assemblies; execute process validation, including process capability studies, first-article builds, measurement system analysis, and end-of-line tests, and coordinate line layout, production handoff, and operator training.

Desired Qualifications

CATIA/3DX or SolidWorks experience for 3D computer-aided design of fixtures and tooling is preferred.
A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field is preferred, with graduate-level education more preferred; equivalent experience is accepted.
Background in component manufacturing processes for gears, shafts, and housings, including machining, finishing, grinding, heat treatment, and metrology, is preferred.
Experience with statistical process control, process failure mode and effects analysis, control plans, predictive maintenance tools, and lean manufacturing on manufacturing and assembly lines is preferred.
Familiarity with programmable logic controller programming, robot teaching and programming, vision system setup, or automation programming for manufacturing and assembly cells is preferred.

Category	Tesla SI
Location	Holzgerlingen, BW
Requisition ID	278165
Type	Full-time

Job Description

<p>The Optimus actuator team is seeking a skilled and highly motivated Gearbox Manufacturing Engineer to own the equipment, automation, and process systems that enable precision gearbox component manufacturing and assembly at scale. You will lead the full lifecycle of manufacturing and assembly equipment and cells—from specification and design through sourcing, installation, commissioning, and production qualification—while driving OEE, yield, cycle time, and scrap performance for complex geartrains used in humanoid robot actuators. </p><p>The ideal candidate thrives hands-on with production equipment and automation, combines strong engineering fundamentals with practical line ownership, is highly organized with excellent attention to detail, and delivers continuous improvement under the pace of a high-growth</p>

Job Responsibilities

Specify, design/source, procure, install, commission, and qualify equipment and automation for gearbox component manufacturing lines (e.g., gear/shaft/housing machining, finishing, heat treatment, metrology) and assembly cells—including CNC and automation cells, servo/hydraulic presses, automated fastening and torque systems, robotic cells, vision/traceability, leak and functional test stands, and related process controls—from concept through production readiness
Own equipment RFQ, supplier selection, factory acceptance (FAT/SAT), installation, integration, and commissioning of component manufacturing and assembly assets; ensure seamless integration with upstream/downstream processes and the broader production line
Improve OEE through upgrades, line balancing, automation enhancements, and continuous improvement on both component manufacturing and assembly equipment—reducing downtime, changeover loss, and process variation while increasing throughput and first-pass yield
Develop and sustain preventive and predictive maintenance programs, tooling/fixtures, and controls (PLCs, robotics, sensors, and machine vision) for component manufacturing and assembly equipment to ensure robust, repeatable operation; design and maintain poka-yoke devices and process fixtures
Troubleshoot equipment and process failures on the line, manage spare-parts strategy and critical spares inventory, and lead structured root-cause analysis (5-Why, fishbone, DOE as needed) with Quality and Design to eliminate recurring scrap, rework, and downtime drivers across manufacturing and assembly
Support capacity planning and CapEx justification for new and upgraded component manufacturing and assembly assets; create equipment documentation (specs, SOPs, maintenance plans, training materials) and train operators, technicians, and engineers for production handoff
Ensure safety compliance and EH&S readiness for all manufacturing and assembly equipment and processes—including machine guarding, LOTO, and safe handling of coolants, greases, adhesives, and press systems—and drive correct integration of new assets into existing processes and production lines
Own process performance and track KPIs including yield, cycle time, scrap/rework, OEE, and equipment uptime for component manufacturing and assembly; publish status, drive corrective actions, and continuously raise process capability
Own end-to-end process development for component manufacturing and gearbox assembly from prototype to production—defining sequences, work instructions, process flow, and critical parameters (machining/finishing targets, press forces, bearing preload, torque/angle, adhesive/sealant, grease fill) locked into equipment recipes, controls, and validation plans; scale technologies to high-volume (automotive-level) lines
Partner with rest of the organization on DFM/DFA development for components and assemblies and execute process validation (Cp/Cpk, first-article component and assembly builds, GR&R, end-of-line tests) as part of equipment and process qualification; coordinate line layout, production handoff, and operator training

Job Requirements

3+ years specifying, procuring, installing, commissioning, and qualifying production equipment and/or automation for component manufacturing lines and/or assembly cells—including RFQ ownership, supplier management, FAT/SAT, and production ramp
3+ years of hands-on experience in gearbox, actuator, or other precision rotary product manufacturing and/or assembly process development
Proven proficiency in precision mechanical processes: machining/finishing of precision components, press fits, bearing installation and preload, shaft stack-ups and fastener selection
Ability to read and apply complex mechanical drawings and GD&T for components and assemblies including bearings, gears, shafts, housings, and actuators
3D CAD experience for fixture and tooling design (preferably CATIA/3DX or SolidWorks)
Familiarity with manufacturing and assembly equipment and controls: CNC/automation cells, servo/hydraulic presses, digital torque tools, fixtures, sensors, and industrial communication protocols
Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field preferred (graduate-level education more preferred), or equivalent experience
Background in component manufacturing processes for gears, shafts, and housings (machining, finishing, grinding, heat treatment processes, and metrology) preferred
Experience with SPC, PFMEA, control plans, predictive maintenance tools, and lean manufacturing on manufacturing and assembly lines preferred
Familiarity with PLC programming, robot teach/programming, vision system setup, or automation programming for manufacturing and assembly cells preferred

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

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