Manufacturing Joining Engineer, Closures

What to Expect

Tesla is seeking a highly motivated and
experienced Manufacturing Joining Engineer to join our Closures team supporting
NV93 GA Closures. As the plasma, 2K dispense, bonding, and vision specialist,
you will own process health, equipment performance, and continuous improvement
for automated joining of plastic closure assemblies. You will maintain and
improve existing processes, tooling, and robotic cells, and partner with
cross-functional teams to remove bottlenecks and raise line performance.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the subject matter
  expert for Plasma surface treatment, SCA Dispensing 2K, structural
  Bonding, and Vision Systems (Coherix + Mech Mind) across NV93 GA
  Closures

• Own day-to-day process
  stability for plasma treatment quality, 2K mix/bead/path control,
  bonded-joint integrity, and in-process vision (Coherix bead/Z-tracking and
  Mech Mind 3D)

• Perform root cause analysis
  on complex joining faults (plasma coverage/dyne, mix ratio, open time,
  wet-out, adhesion vs cohesive failure, bead geometry, compression/fit-up,
  vision false rejects) using DMAIC, Ishikawa, Five Why (5W), and Eight
  Disciplines (8D), and drive permanent corrective actions

• Lead production trials to
  optimize plasma, 2K dispense, and bonding parameters, introduce new
  product designs, and validate process windows on plastic-to-plastic and
  plastic-to-metal joints

• Analyze production processes
  to ensure safety while maximizing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE);
  optimize cycle time, balance workloads, and reduce bottlenecks in plasma,
  dispense, bonding, and vision stations

• Lead non-conforming material
  (NCM) activities, including rework procedures, containment, and line
  fallout troubleshooting for bonded closures; support manufacturing
  excellence (5S, Lean, material handling, line layout)

• Monitor and reduce process
  variation using SPC and Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA), including
  dyne/surface energy, bead volume/height, teardown CF%, max defect length,
  and vision system capability

• Develop and maintain process
  sheets, PFMEAs, control plans, and standard operating procedures for
  plasma, 2K dispense, bonding, and vision

• Apply GD&T and plastics
  manufacturing knowledge to diagnose fit-up, gap, compression, locator, and
  dimensional stack-up issues that drive bond quality on molded closure
  assemblies

• Partner with Controls,
  Maintenance, Quality, Materials, and equipment vendors (SCA, Coherix, Mech
  Mind, plasma OEMs) on upgrades, spare strategy, and technical
  escalations

What You’ll Bring

• Degree in Mechanical,
  Mechatronics, Automotive, Manufacturing, Materials/Polymer, or equivalent
  experience

• Background in plastics
  manufacturing processes required (injection molding, dimensional
  stability, surface energy, primer/adhesion promoters, thermal expansion of
  plastic assemblies)

• Background in Geometric
  Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) required

• 4+ years developing and
  improving high-volume manufacturing processes; at least 2+ years hands-on
  in plasma treatment, 2K adhesive dispensing, and/or structural bonding of
  plastic assemblies in automated/robotic environments

• Strong knowledge of plasma
  fundamentals (surface energy, dyne, treatment distance/speed/power,
  coverage), 2K dispense (mix ratio, pot life/open time, bead path,
  volume/height control), bonding (wet-out, compression, cure, cohesive vs
  adhesive failure, tensile/peel), 3D vision (Coherix / Mech Mind), and
  joining quality gates (teardown CF%, max single-defect length)

• Ability to initiate design
  and process changes using DfM, Poka-Yoke, and failure-mode
  elimination

• Strong understanding of BOM,
  MES, quality specifications, process capability (Cpk), and change
  management

• Ability to use structured
  problem-solving (DMAIC, Ishikawa, 5W, 8D) and to collaborate with
  cross-functional teams on highly technical problems

• Excellent written and verbal
  communication skills

• Linux, Tableau, SQL,
  Ignition, and/or Minitab experience preferred; exposure to other Closures
  joining technologies (ultrasonic spot weld, 1K urethane/SCA SG10,
  Robotape, sealing) is a plus