Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Lead Equipment Design Engineer - Cell Engineering

Design EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeFremont, CA, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent experience.
At least 6 years of experience in machine design, robotics, or high-speed automation.
A proven track record of scaling technologies from lab-scale prototypes to robust manufacturing assets.
A strong foundation in solid mechanics, dynamics, material selection, and fabrication, including machining, welding, and 3D printing.
Expert-level proficiency in SolidWorks/PDM and Ansys or similar computer-aided engineering tools.
Familiarity with sensors, microcontrollers, and basic electrical and control logic, including relays and input/output.
Ability to collaborate with and influence Chemical, Electrical, and Software engineers.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to support vendor sites and Gigafactories.

Responsibilities

Develop automated test equipment and proof-of-concept systems, including high-fidelity computer-aided design models and pneumatic schemes.
Use structural and thermal finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics to verify designs before they reach the shop floor.
Lead conceptual development by weighing product specifications against process requirements, layout complexity, cost, and lead times.
Identify bottlenecks in existing processes and propose and implement hardware solutions to improve system robustness and ease of assembly.
Lead equipment building, debugging, and fine-tuning; drive equipment duplication and support transition to the production floor.
Execute Factory Acceptance Testing and Site Acceptance Testing protocols to ensure quality.

Desired Qualifications

Experience in laser processing or optical equipment design.
Experience with robot programming, including Fanuc or Kuka, or programmable logic controller integration.

Category	Manufacturing
Location	Fremont, California
Requisition ID	266483
Type	Full-time

Job Description

<p>Tesla’s In-House Cell Group is looking for a high-octane Mechanical Engineer to architect the next generation of automated manufacturing equipment. Unlike traditional long-cycle automation, this role sits within our Agile Projects team. You will focus on rapid prototyping and proof-of-concept (PoC) systems, shortening the feedback loop between design and mass production. We are looking for a "Swiss Army Knife" engineer—someone who can pivot from complex FEA simulations to hands-on debugging, while collaborating across disciplines to solve the hardest problems in battery manufacturing. If you are driven by vertical integration and have a healthy appetite for exploring ideas that might fail on the way to a breakthrough, this is your team. </p>

Job Responsibilities

Architect & Design: Develop sophisticated automated test equipment and PoC systems; create high-fidelity CAD models and pneumatic schemes

Validate through Simulation: Use structural/thermal FEA and CFD to verify designs before they hit the shop floor

Balance Constraints: Lead conceptual development by weighing product specs against process requirements, layout complexity, cost, and aggressive lead times

Optimize & Iterate: Identify bottlenecks in existing processes; propose and implement innovative hardware solutions to improve system robustness and ease of assembly

Hands-on Deployment: Lead the building, debugging, and fine-tuning of equipment. Drive equipment duplication and support the transition to the production floor

Quality Assurance: Execute detailed testing protocols, including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), to ensure "Tesla-standard" quality

Job Requirements

Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent experience

Experience: 6+ years in machine design, robotics, or high-speed automation

Prototype to Production: A proven track record of scaling technologies from lab-scale "science projects" to robust manufacturing assets

Technical Mastery: Strong foundation in solid mechanics, dynamics, material selection, and fabrication (machining, welding, 3D printing)

Tools: Expert-level proficiency in SolidWorks/PDM and Ansys (or similar CAE tools)

Multidisciplinary Exposure: Familiarity with sensors, microcontrollers, and basic electrical/control logic (relays, I/O)

Soft Skills: Exceptional collaborative ability; must be able to influence and work alongside Chemical, Electrical, and Software engineers

Mobility: Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to support vendor sites and Gigafactories

Specialized Optics: Experience in laser processing or optical equipment design

Advanced Robotics: Experience with robot programming (Fanuc, Kuka, etc.) or PLC integration

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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