Associate Production Engineering Manager, Cell Tabless

About the role

Associate Production Engineering Manager, Cell Tabless | Tesla (Manufacturing)

Location: AUSTIN, Texas | Req ID: 281807 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

Tesla's Cell Manufacturing organization is scaling cell production at Gigafactory Texas. As Associate Production Engineering Manager, Cell Tabless, you will lead the shift engineering function that supports around-the-clock production — primarily winding (web handling) and laser welding processes.

In this role, you'll lead and raise the shift engineering team: set the bar for ownership and technical excellence, coach engineers through structured problem solving, and ensure the team delivers sustainable engineering solutions that improve Tabless area performance. You will provide hands-on technical support and coaching as the team executes projects that drive OEE, yield, availability, and quality — balanced across ramp and sustaining.

This individual will be heavily focused on implementing sustainable engineering solutions so Tabless can meet factory ramp goals and OEE targets — not one-off firefighting. Success means a capable, high-trust shift engineering bench, fewer recurring losses, and clear closure of actions with measurable results. This role reports to the Engineering Manager, Tabless, and partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Manufacturing/Process Engineering, and Controls.

What You'll Do

• Lead, coach, and develop the Tabless shift engineering team supporting continuous around-the-clock production, setting clear expectations for escalation response, root-cause quality, documentation, handoffs, and follow-through into day engineering
• Build technical depth on the team through hands-on coaching and structured problem-solving, rather than simply redistributing tickets
• Establish rhythms for issue tracking, action ownership, due dates, expected results, and knowledge transfer so problems don't recur shift-to-shift
• Own EHS assurance for the team, including current safety training, incident documentation, proactive hazard correction, and a culture that prioritizes safety and quality
• Drive OEE, yield, availability, and quality improvements using a data-driven approach, with documented actions, clear due dates, and expected results
• Prioritize sustainable engineering solutions that support factory ramp goals and long-term line stability over one-off firefighting
• Ensure rapid, disciplined response to production escalations and quality escapes, including tool recovery, root-cause documentation, and robust containment and corrective action
• Apply lean principles to reduce scrap, streamline production activities, and drive adherence to 5S and equipment/area cleanliness standards
• Lead engineers to improve, optimize, and sustain high-throughput Tabless processes and equipment, with primary focus on winding (web handling) and welding, partnering with operations, manufacturing engineering, process engineering, and controls to remove bottlenecks, improve line productivity, and support installation, startup, handover, and sustaining improvements
• Uphold process documentation standards (Manufacturing Instructions, Standard Work, OCAPs, ECHOs, PFMEA, Control Plans), support technician capability through Tech Talks and CTQ training, and allocate people and priorities across competing demands during ramp and steady-state operation

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (mechanical, industrial, electrical, manufacturing, or related technical discipline), Mathematics, Physical Science, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience in high-volume manufacturing, equipment/process engineering, production engineering, or related technical roles (7-10+ years preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to lead or heavily influence technical teams in automated manufacturing environments; prior people leadership of engineers (shift, process, equipment, or production engineering) preferred
• Track record delivering measurable manufacturing improvements in OEE/availability, yield, quality, throughput, scrap, or cost
• Experience applying, and ideally teaching, structured problem-solving methods such as root cause analysis, 5-Why, 8D, and DOE/SPC as applicable
• Ability to meet commitments and deliver results in a fast-paced production environment, managing multiple priorities and adjusting dynamically as the business requires
• Strong communication and coaching skills, with the ability to raise the technical bar of engineers while aligning cross-functional partners
• Willingness to spend significant time on the production floor, with flexibility to adjust working hours, including nights and weekends, to support continuous manufacturing operations
• Hands-on experience with winding/web handling, laser welding, high-speed automated machinery, or similar high-volume processes, ideally in battery cell manufacturing, preferred
• Familiarity with PLC controls, Cognex (or equivalent) machine vision, and troubleshooting automated equipment, along with a first-principles mindset for simplifying problems and delivering practical, lasting solutions, preferred

Benefits

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, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program
• Earned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)