Tesla
Tesla is looking for a highly motivated process development engineer to create, develop and scale up manufacturing processes for our cutting-edge Tesla battery cell manufacturing line. This role will invent, develop, scale up, and optimize battery manufacturing processes within a cross-functional engineering team responsible for the development lifecycle and launch into manufacturing.
The battery cell is a critical component in Tesla vehicles and storage systems. This role will have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to our products. The work environment is demanding, fast-paced, and incredibly exciting.
What You’ll Do
Drive development of new/innovative manufacturing processes from proof of concept through to full scale production that enable improved battery performance, cost, and meet throughput requirements
Characterize existing processes, establish controls for critical parameters, and improve process robustness
Create robust materials testing protocols to inform process development and quality control
Execute DoEs to optimize process conditions
Conduct root cause analysis of failure modes at various process steps
Conduct analysis / interpretation and presentation of experimental data
Drive process commissioning on new production lines
Establish process controls for SPC and develop process related OCAPs
Develop and manage PFMEA risk assessments to prioritize process improvement projects and ensure adequate metrology and controls are in place.
Debug process integration issues to ensure interactions between processes are kept under control
Build process documentation to accurately define the process to cross-functional teams (equipment, quality, production, etc.)
Model holistic process costs using bottoms-up system approach
What You’ll Bring
B.S. in chemical, mechanical, or materials engineering or similar.
5+ years interdisciplinary/integrated engineering, process development, manufacturing engineering, or equivalent. Senior roles available for more experienced candidates
Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals and ability to apply them towards manufacturing process development
Ability to build structure-property-processing relationships for different material classes eg. ceramics, polymers, and composites
Proven problem solver – demonstrated experience of data driven root cause analysis, statistical software (JMP) a plus
Demonstrated capabilities in manufacturing process development for new and unique products
Hands-on experience and fundamental understanding of one or more materials characterization techniques such as SEM, XRD, particle size measurement, dry and wet rheology, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, TGA, DSC etc.
Willingness to perform hands on work on pilot and production lines, as well as in laboratory settings
Experience in high volume manufacturing involving one or more of these areas is highly desired:
Material formulations expertise
Dry powder handling and processing
Mixing fundamentals and scale up expertise
Ceramic and composite materials
Pneumatic conveyance of powders and composites
Automated mechanical assembly
Power electronics
Industrial chemical processing
Battery manufacturing (Li-ion or other chemistry)