Design Validation Engineer

Overview

Design Validation Engineer role s position is part of Tesla's Electronics Test and Automation Group (ETAG), which focuses on ensuring high-quality vehicle, silicon, and robotics electronics. The team develops test automation equipment, architects software automation frameworks, and provides hardware, software, and data infrastructure for Tesla electronics communities worldwide.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on Electrical Engineer with a strong focus on board-level failure analysis, capable of identifying, analyzing, root-causing, implementing countermeasures for, and reporting on issues affecting low-voltage PCBAs, including body controllers and car computers. You will collaborate with test engineers to mitigate issues and implement countermeasures at suppliers and factories, improving product quality, reliability, and durability.

You should be a proactive problem solver with excellent analytical and organizational skills, thriving in a fast-paced environment that rewards performance. You should be passionate about innovation, eager to develop new skills, and excited to contribute to the next generation of engineering tools and systems.

• Collaborate with Electronics Design Engineers, Quality Engineers, Supplier Engineers, and Contract Manufacturers to monitor product performance, identify trending issues, and prioritize them based on severity, occurrence, and/or cost of each failure mode
• Conduct detailed failure analysis, identifying root causes of problems—perform board-level debugging to isolate faults for physical failure analysis (FA)
• Apply knowledge of electrical engineering and PCBA manufacturing to drive containment and corrective actions into production, design, suppliers, and firmware
• Participate in continuous improvement activities and implement preventive actions
• Share lessons learned from previous field issues; provide upfront feedback by participating in design reviews to ensure product performance, reliability, and manufacturability issues are identified and risks mitigated (e.g., via DFMEAs)
• Contribute to ongoing optimization of products and processes (e.g., performance, cost, and technology)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Electronics, Mechatronics, or a similar field required or equivalent experience
• Preferably 2+ years of hands-on experience in a role such as Failure Analysis, Quality, or Service in the consumer electronics or automotive industry
• Broad technical background with the ability to work effectively with engineering, manufacturing, service, and supplier teams across a wide variety of issues; strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential for building effective relationships within Tesla and externally
• Exceptional problem-solving and failure analysis skills, with strong attention to detail and analytical thinking
• Proficient in PCBA-level troubleshooting and debugging; experience with embedded systems such as ARM microcontrollers or FPGAs is a plus
• Knowledge of applying statistical methods and tools to manage, synthesize, and interpret data
• Proficiency in programming languages and tools such as Python, Minitab, JMP, or similar is a strong plus
• Previous experience in a fast-paced, high-pressure manufacturing environment is a plus

• Compensation and Benefits:
  As a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for benefits from day 1 of hire, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, FSA/HSA, 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan, and more
• Expected Compensation: $104,000 - $204,000 annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

• Entry level

• Full-time

• Quality Assurance

• Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
• Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing
• Utilities

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