Engineering Technician, Battery Metals & Materials

What to Expect

Scaling the production of battery materials, their precursors and closing the loop with recycling encompass some of the greatest engineering challenges of our time. Tesla’s Battery Metals and Materials group is looking for a highly motivated technician to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

This position will focus on the development and scale-up of several processes designed to increase the speed, efficiency, and environmental performance of battery material manufacture. Candidates will be the primary technical contact for one or more processing steps and unit operations by assisting in the day-to-day operation of integrated, lab/pilot facility.

What You’ll Do

• Comply with company regulations and policies while promoting a strong safety culture in the lab

• Collaborate with EHS on compliance, waste management, MOC, and chemical hygiene activities

• Establish R&D programs, test plans, and transferring process knowledge of high-intensity unit operations so that they may be scaled safely and effectively

• Design, build, procure and commission lab/pilot scale unit operating systems

• Perform experimental data analysis and prepare technical presentations

• Translate process learnings to meaningful results which affiliated teams may be use as a design basis

• Collaborate with R&D, drafting, and mechanical teams to ensure unit design and process conditions meet production and material quality targets

• Ensure day-to-day process operation is safe, organized, and efficient, including assembling production plans, data collection strategies and report-out

• Participate and assist in design and scale-up by documenting process learnings

• Support equipment selection, factory-acceptance-trials, and commissioning of larger facilities

What You’ll Bring

• Quantifiable lab analytical experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemistry or a related field, or equivalent experience

• At least two (2) years of hands-on research (university or commercial) experience in disciplines related to metallurgy or inorganic chemistry or materials science or chemical engineering or similar

• Wet chemistry treatment includes elevated temperature and pressure autoclave leaching, high pressure, and atmospheric reactor, physicochemical precipitation, clarification, filtration

• Hands-on experience with building process skids, agitated tanks, pumps, piping etc.

• Evidence of exceptional ability, including a strong understanding of engineering fundamentals and demonstrated ability to leverage this understanding to solve challenging technical problems

• The successful candidate will have experience in lab or pilot operations where they have not only operated the unit but can demonstrate the successful implementation of process or equipment improvement

• Detail oriented with strong record-keeping and organizational skills

Essential Physical Demands:

• Stand for long periods, lift up to 50 lbs. and work in a fast-paced, noisy environment
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and work in varying temperatures and environments
• Ability to climb, bend, stoop, and kneel as needed