Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Lead Thermal Engineer - Energy Products

Thermal & Fluids EngineeringUpdated on Nov 11

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

About the Job

Requirements

Excellent first-principles understanding of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics, with relevant experience.
Experience using MATLAB and/or Python to build physics-based one-dimensional models.
Strong fundamentals in finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics, with demonstrated experience.
Experience modeling, testing, and designing thermal components such as single- and multi-phase heat exchangers, compressors, fans, and pumps.
Familiarity with manufacturing processes and practical design limitations.
Strong documentation and reporting skills.
Ability to solve novel, difficult thermal design problems.

Responsibilities

Lead in-depth modeling of fan and radiator systems, pumped coolant systems, and compression cycles to drive design concepts and detailed design decisions for next-generation Tesla Energy thermal systems.
Balance physics-based one-dimensional analytical models with higher-fidelity computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, and empirical approaches to understand thermal systems and thermodynamic cycles and optimize component performance.
Collaborate with design engineers to iterate on design strategies and optimize performance and system metrics at detailed component and subsystem levels.
Support programs through their entire life cycle, including specification development, modeling, prototype builds, testing, and production.
Develop and support execution of component and subsystem design failure mode and effects analysis and design validation plans and methods to validate product adherence to requirements, in collaboration with validation and systems engineering teams.
Support creation of component and subsystem specifications and technical design documents.
Establish and maintain team technology, working methods, and process roadmaps, spearheading the continued success of Tesla Energy thermal engineering.

Desired Qualifications

CAD modeling experience; CATIA V5 or V6 is a plus.

Category	Energy Engineering
Location	Palo Alto, California
Requisition ID	265340
Type	Full-time

Job Description

Tesla Energy is bringing battery, solar, and charging technologies to the grid, establishing new industries and defining the future of renewable energy ecosystems. This team is at the forefront of how we will generate, distribute, and consume power today and in the future. Our team is composed of individuals who are fast-moving, self-motivated, who love to solve difficult problems, and are team players. As the Thermal Engineering Lead of the Thermal Design Team, you will lead the thermal engineering team that is modeling and driving the detailed design of the thermal systems, including refrigerant cycles and air/coolant systems, that help make Tesla Energy products world class. You will be working with a highly motivated and interdisciplinary team that rethinks how thermal systems should be designed from the ground up. In this role, you will start from blank page designs and build up to the top-level design ownership with a first principles design approach. Your expertise will be applied to everything from the high-level system layout and performance scoping, to the detailed analyses of fluid, heat transfer, and thermodynamic fundamentals of heat pump cycle components and broader thermal system components. The role is collaborative and cross-functional, requiring extensive interfacing with teams including systems engineering, parallel design teams, electrical/firmware engineering, and systems integration, to name a few. This role requires the ability to apply engineering fundamentals to design thermal systems that are at the core of Tesla’s success.

Job Responsibilities

Lead in-depth modeling of fan/radiator systems, pumped coolant systems, and compression cycles to drive design concepts and detailed design decisions for next generation Tesla Energy thermal systems
Balance physics-based 1D analytical models with higher fidelity CFD/FEA and empirical approaches to efficiently drive to the fundamentals of thermal systems and thermodynamic cycles and optimize component performance
Collaborate with design engineers to iterate on design strategies and optimize performance/system metrics at the detailed component level and subsystem level
Support programs through the entire life cycle including spec development, modeling, prototype builds, test, and production
Develop and support execution of component/subsystem DFMEA and design validation plans/methods to validate product adherence to requirements, in collaboration with parallel validation and systems engineering teams
Support creation of component/subsystem specifications and technical design documents
Establish and maintain team technology, working methods, and process roadmaps, spearheading the continued success of Tesla Energy thermal engineering

Job Requirements

Excellent first principles understanding of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics with relevant experience
MATLAB and/or Python experience for building physics-based 1D models
Strong fundamentals in FEA/CFD with demonstrated experience
Experience modeling, testing and designing thermal components, such as single and multi-phase heat exchangers, compressors, fans, pumps, etc.
CAD modeling experience preferred, CATIA V5/6 a plus
Familiarity with manufacturing processes and practical design limitations
A detail-oriented personality with solid documentation and reporting skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment
Demonstrable motivation and ability to solve novel, difficult thermal design problems

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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