What To Expect
As a Sustaining Engineer on Tesla’s HV Battery Design Engineering Team (based in Palo Alto, CA or Reno, NV), you will be the design point of contact responsible for continuously improving our vehicle batteries currently in production. Your scope includes all structural, thermal, electrical, and sensing components required to make a large battery out of hundreds of cells. The sustaining role is about continually improving the product, launching new product variants, helping reinforce our supply chain (qualifying alternative materials/suppliers) and directly participate in factory capacity expansion efforts.

What You'll Do

Become first design point of contact responsible for all batteries found in all Tesla vehicles (Models S3XY) across multiple cell types

Fully understand the battery design, and the manufacturing systems that build it (factory process and equipment)

Launch new battery variants based on existing architectures (higher/lower energy packs)

Collaborate with Manufacturing, Process, and Quality to cut-over product improvements

Work with field quality and reliability to translate field failures into actionable part design changes, driving warranty improvements

Participate in battery teardowns for field and factory failures

Participate in design reviews and change control process

BOM changes, design revisions, scrappy bench-tests

Own product improvements (cost, complexity reductions) and refine product specifications

Visit suppliers for part qualifications, design change reviews, line audits, etc.

What You'll Bring

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience

Ability to travel up to 25% of the year to different Tesla factories & offices as well as suppliers

Experience in battery or high-volume manufacturing environments

Strong Engineering fundamentals in heat transfer, electrical, mechanics, and basic electronics

Proficiency in CAD modeling. CATIA V5/V6 and 3DX experience is a plus

Proficiency with statistics and data analysis. SPC/Black-Belt proficiency a plus but not mandatory

Preferred experience with various manufacturing processes such as plastic injection molding, metal stamping, thermoforming, welding/brazing, plating, PCBA/FPC, and bonding

Preferred experience in designing for high volume assembly, both manual and automated

A detail-oriented personality with solid documentation and reporting skills

Experience with student Formula Vehicle, Solar Car, Formula Baja, etc. is a plus

Benefits
Compensation and Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction

Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits

Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution

Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA

Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits

Company paid Basic Life, AD&D

Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)

Employee Assistance Program

Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays

Back-up childcare and parenting support resources

Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance

Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs

Tesla Babies program

Commuter benefits

Employee discounts and perks program

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