Mechanical Engineer, Infrastructure, Energy

What to Expect

Welcome to Infrastructure DesignX — Tesla’s newest high-octane technical engineering team.

We’re not here to maintain the status quo. We’re here to invent the infrastructure that powers the next generation of R&D labs and gigafactories. Think cutting-edge energy systems, radical decarbonization, and performance-obsessed mechanical design that turns “impossible” facility challenges into production reality across the Bay Area and beyond.

As our Energy / Mechanical Engineer, you’ll own the strategies that push our facilities to peak energy performance. You’ll drive energy efficiency moonshots, decarbonization studies, and detailed life cycle cost assessments — translating bold conceptual models into real mechanical systems that actually get built. You’ll sit at the intersection of architecture, electrical, mechanical, and controls, running rapid design optioneering that optimizes every watt, every dollar, and every ton of carbon.

If you get excited by the idea of designing the energy backbone for the most advanced manufacturing and research environments on the planet, this is your arena.

What You’ll Do

• Perform comprehensive energy modeling and simulations to optimize building performance, evaluate Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs), and calculate operational carbon emissions (CO2e)
• Research local initiatives and credits for implementing energy efficiency upgrades
• Conceptualize complex mechanical HVAC, central utility plant (CUP), and hydronic distribution systems for large-scale R&D and manufacturing environments
• Conduct detailed heating and cooling load calculations using industry-standard software to size mechanical equipment accurately
• Select and specify mechanical equipment, including chillers, boilers, cooling towers, air handling units (AHUs), pumps, and fans
• Collaborate with the Controls Engineering team to develop sequences of operations that maximize the efficiency of mechanical systems
• Evaluate lifecycle costs of various mechanical system architectures to guide design decisions
• Ensure all designs comply with relevant building codes, mechanical codes, and energy standards (e.g., ASHRAE, California Title 24)
• Manage and prioritize design requests for new construction builds, existing site facilities support, and legacy site enhancement projects
• Research emerging technologies and evaluate performance claims, maturity level (TRL), reliability data, safety/code implications, maintainability, and vendor viability

What You’ll Bring

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant experience
• Bonus: Professional Engineer (PE) license, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or LEED AP certifications
• Experience with decarbonization initiatives and CO2 emissions studies
• Proficiency in energy modeling and load calculation software (e.g., Energy Plus, IESVE, Trane TRACE, Carrier HAP, Open Studio)
• Deep understanding of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, psychrometrics, and heat transfer
• Proven experience designing custom airside and waterside systems, including variable flow hydronics and specialized exhaust systems
• Familiarity with building information modeling (BIM) software, specifically Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD
• Strong knowledge of sustainable building practices and energy-efficient system design
• Ability to read, interpret, and produce detailed mechanical schematics, P&IDs, and construction documents
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills to collaborate with electrical, controls, and architectural disciplines