Sr. Technical Program Manager, Cell Factory Development Engineering

What to Expect

Battery Cells are the common denominator for every Tesla product. Our product requirements demand ground‑up cell architectures with state‑of‑the‑art performance, manufactured at volumes that are orders of magnitude higher than the products they power. Our environment is fast‑paced and incredibly exciting. Tesla moves quickly, so being passionate and self‑motivated to push your limits is critical. Our team works alongside engineering groups across various disciplines, requiring strong communication skills and a team‑first mentality.

You will work alongside seasoned industry experts, high aptitude recent graduates, and people from every stage in between.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to coordinate and manage the design, development, and implementation of pilot factories and labs to support the development of new cell products and technologies. As a technical program manager, you are responsible for managing the schedules and plan for the gamut of development projects for pilot manufacturing. You will use your engineering background to understand the line, construction requirements, equipment, process and product requirements, technical risks, strategy for deployment and ramp, and use these to define the development roadmap for equipment.

Technical program managers own driving the scope, schedule, implementation, and cost of the project but most critically how these projects align to Tesla's product roadmap. You will communicate and present project status, highlight schedule risk, and develop recovery plans in the event of a project slip. Thus, this is a cross‑functional role that requires coordination between many different groups within and outside of Tesla.

• Maintain the master schedule for equipment and labs for the pilot space, ensuring alignment with Tesla's technology roadmap
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to pinpoint and prioritize pilot factory requirements
• Oversee pilot factory designs including layouts, equipment selection, and optimized process flows
• Work closely with development teams to ensure pilot factories meet their technical and operational needs
• Develop and track budgets and timelines for pilot factory initiatives, ensuring on‑time, on‑budget delivery
• Proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, and mitigation strategies to streamline the development process
• Coordinate with facilities and construction to ensure the spaces meet the requirements

• Degree in Engineering, Science, or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferred in pilot factory design and scale‑up
• Hands‑on experience with factory layouts, material flow, logistics, equipment selection, and process development, with lithium‑ion battery experience being a big plus
• Outstanding communication and project management skills, including leading teams and managing budgets effectively
• Solid knowledge of safety protocols and regulations, such as OSHA and NFPA standards
• Exceptional problem‑solving abilities, fueled by a passion for innovation and continuous improvement
• Familiarity with pilot factory operations, including process optimization and scaling from lab to production
• Proficiency in data acquisition, analysis, visualization, and reporting systems
• Proven ability to juggle multiple priorities, thrive under pressure, and deliver results against tight deadlines
• Strong organizational skills, with a track record of coordinating high‑performing, cross‑functional teams
• Experience with AutoCAD, Solidworks, or other 2D/3D design tools is a plus

Along with competitive pay, as a full‑time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family‑building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High‑Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans,…