Cell Mechanical Design Engineer

What to Expect

We're seeking top engineers to design paradigm-shifting battery cells— the heart of every Tesla product— and the biggest lever on affordable, abundant, and performant EVs for all.

Our vertically integrated program is industry one-of-a-kind: your improvements in our cells will cascade through the organization, reshaping how battery packs, full vehicles and production lines look like. The role requires strong 1st principles, a passion for advancing state-of-the-art, and the tenacity to ensure the success of your ideas.

Our team habitually defies convention and designs each component and the full cell to limits of physics. You'll align inputs from multiple disciplines (supply chain, electrochemistry design, manufacturing & quality engineering) to develop new cell products, set & validate to requirements, and launch into mass production. Your environment will include battle-proven industry experts, high-aptitude recent graduates, and open access to a wealth of domain leaders across every Tesla department.

We feel immense daily satisfaction surrounding ourselves with high-ownership, empathetic, truth-seeking, continuously learning, mission-oriented people— join us

What You'll Do

• Holistic design ownership of mechanical parts / assemblies for in-house cylindrical 4680 cell and beyond (initial concept through development, factory launch + ramp)
• Advance and execute technologies that unlock new product performance and safety paradigms while reducing cost / mass and improving manufacturability, ensuring that they outperform already strong predecessor variants

• Own prototyping, basic testing and analysis (support advanced testing and analysis)

• Hands-on engagement with manufacturing process and automation development

• Research and benchmark competitive solutions; complete DFMEA and fault tree analysis
• Define and release technical specifications (dimensional, functional, performance, manufacturing)
• Author clear technical documentation & deliver live presentations
• Participate in component sourcing and supplier engineering relationships
• Occasional travel to Tesla factories, satellite team sites, and suppliers (domestic / international as needed)

What You'll Bring

• Education background in mechanical engineering, or the equivalent in experience and evidence of exceptional ability
• Strong knowledge of the fundamentals of Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer and Electricity.
• Foundational knowledge in GD&T (proficiency is a plus)
• Well versed using 3D CAD software, preferably CATIA
• Experience designing components with many multidisciplinary requirements. Lithium-ion batteries is a plus, but valuable knowledge might come from designing solar cells, smart phones, rocket motors, satellites etc.
• Familiarity with properties and applications of mass production engineering metals and polymers. Previous work with foils, stamped parts or coatings is a plus.
• Hands-on fabrication skills at some point in the career, student engineering competitions, hobbies etc.
• Experience with experiment design and setup, data acquisition, analysis
• Ability to hit deadlines under pressure and manage shifting requirements, multiple simultaneous priorities
• Great communication skills (interpersonal & technical); willingness to lead discussions with internal & external groups; a team-first attitude

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.