Manufacturing Controls Development Engineer, Megapack Body in White

What to Expect

The Energy Manufacturing Controls Team is hiring only the best controls engineers to design, validate, and commission the production systems that build Megapack, Supercharger, and Powerpack. You will work across our Austin and Houston-area factories, taking new equipment from concept to full-rate production.

As a Manufacturing Controls Development Engineer, you will own the controls system of these lines and be directly responsible for its results. You will take charge of any project you are given, learn new technology fast, and handle many competing requests under real production pressure. Everything on the line will be questioned, challenged, and improved. Join our team to build the machines that accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.

What You’ll Do

• Take charge of any assigned project, regardless of scope or starting state. Own technical direction, schedule, vendors, and cross-functional coordination from kickoff through handover
• Take part in early equipment concept development, balancing product specifications, process requirements, layout complexity, cost, and lead time
• Architect, develop, and debug PLC programs in Siemens TIA Portal (S7-1500 / ET 200SP) that are organized, structured, documented, maintainable, and reusable. Use library types, UDTs, and modular FB/FC design in SCL, LAD, and GRAPH
• Design and build new function blocks (FBs) from provided documentation, such as device manuals, interface/communication specs (PROFINET GSDML, telegram maps), process descriptions, and Tesla standards. Deliver clean interfaces, diagnostics, and HMI integration ready for library release
• Use AI-assisted engineering tools (code generation, code review, documentation, and troubleshooting) to speed up development while keeping full engineering ownership of the result
• Integrate PLC code with subsystems such as conveyors, robots, servo/motion axes, MES, machine vision, test and EOL systems (high-voltage, insulation, and leak test), torque tools, and third-party equipment over PROFINET, PROFIsafe, and OPC UA
• Lead root-cause analysis of downtime and controls failures and implement permanent fixes
• Introduce automated processes into production, then train and equip sustaining teams to support the equipment after deployment

What You’ll Bring

• 3+ years of experience in PLC programming and applications
• Expert proficiency in Siemens TIA Portal (S7-1500, SCL/LAD, Safety, PROFINET, WinCC)
• Proven record of commissioning and programming manufacturing systems at the line, station, or component level
• Ability to write production-quality FBs from scratch using only provided documentation
• Ability to adapt and learn at an accelerated rate, and to perform under pressure while managing many requests at once
• Experience with processes such as material handling, battery and module assembly, vision, joining, and end-of-line testing
• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical, Mechatronics, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience
• Robot programming knowledge (Fanuc, KUKA, ABB) is a plus
• Electrical schematic design (EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical)
• Some travel for vendor visits and commissioning. Based in Austin, TX, with regular support for Houston-area sites