Associate Process Engineer, Cell Assembly

What to Expect

Tesla is seeking a motivated Associate Process Engineer to support process development, documentation, and continuous improvement on new assembly lines for advanced cell manufacturing equipment used in Tesla Energy batteries. The battery is one of the most complex components designed and manufactured at Tesla, and this is an opportunity to help build a world-class manufacturing facility from the ground up.

This is a hands-on, fast-paced role for someone early in their engineering career who wants strong exposure to high-volume manufacturing. You will learn how production processes are defined, measured, and improved, while working closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Control Engineering, Quality, and Production teams as products move from design and prototype into full production. You will contribute to day-to-day process support, data analysis, and improvement projects under the guidance of senior process engineers.

What You’ll Do

• Support development and upkeep of process documentation, including Manufacturing Instructions, standard work, PFMEA inputs, and Control Plans
• Collect, organize, and analyze SPC and equipment data to help characterize process operating limits, stability, and action limits
• Assist with data-driven operational decisions by pulling and summarizing tools and process performance data; gain hands-on experience with factory data systems and tools such as MySQL, Python, R, JMP, Tableau, and/or Ignition
• Participate in continuous improvement and lean manufacturing projects focused on yield, capacity, capability, safety, and cost
• Help generate and execute improvement ideas related to cost reduction, labor efficiency, material flow, and workplace safety
• Support Poka-Yoke setup and updates in the Manufacturing Execution System (MES), along with line-side visualization used to improve productivity
• Partner with production and quality teams to troubleshoot basic process issues, document findings, and help implement corrective actions
• Learn and apply core manufacturing engineering practices, including process validation support, build support, and cross-functional collaboration on the manufacturing floor

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, Mathematics, Physical Science, or similar related field, or equivalent experience
• Internship, co-op, academic project, or early-career experience in manufacturing, process engineering, continuous improvement, or related technical work preferred
• Familiarity with one or more data/analysis tools such as Excel, Python, R, JMP, Minitab, Tableau, SQL/MySQL, or Ignition preferred; willingness to learn on the job is essential
• Foundational knowledge of BOMs, manufacturability concepts, assembly methods, and process documentation preferred
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and comfort working in a fast-paced production environment
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, quality, and production teams
• Willingness to work on the manufacturing floor and support new line bring-up, process trials, and production issues as needed