Engineering Program Manager, Battery

About the role

• Engineering Program Manager, Battery | Tesla (Energy Engineering)
• Location: Palo Alto, California | Req ID: 285204 | Job Type: Full-time
• What to Expect

Tesla's Energy Engineering group is seeking a technically accomplished individual to program manage battery module development supporting both Residential and Industrial Energy products. This role carries significant visibility to engineering and executive leadership.

This is a hands-on, cross-functional role where you will own program execution from concept through production ramp and be expected to make engineering-informed decisions with confidence and conviction. You will be embedded in the module design engineering team, deeply involved in cell integration, mechanical design, abuse testing strategy, and manufacturing bring-up.

You will lead technical discussions across design, manufacturing, reliability, supply chain, and test engineering — synthesizing inputs and exercising sound judgement when tradeoffs are required. You will own CCB disposition, cut-in planning, build sequencing, and production change management for your programs. You will also be responsible for resource allocation across competing priorities and developing scalable processes and tools that improve how the engineering organization operates.

We are looking for someone with strong mechanical design intuition who can evaluate a module assembly and identify risks before they become problems — someone who understands cell behavior under compression, thermal boundary conditions, and abuse test failure modes from first principles.

You will be based out of the Bay Area (Palo Alto) with regular travel to manufacturing facilities as program needs dictate.

What You'll Do

• Own battery module programs end-to-end: concept, prototype, validation, production ramp, and post-SOP change management
• Lead technical decisions across design, manufacturing, test, and supply chain — prioritize based on risk, impact, and resource availability
• Lead CCB discussions, evaluate engineering changes for safety and production impact, and drive timely dispositions
• Define and own abuse test and validation strategy at the module level — understand failure modes and translate test results into design action
• Manage build planning, sample allocation, resource allocation, and material flow across multiple concurrent programs and cell platforms
• Own BOM structure, release cycle, and configuration management through production launch
• Develop and implement standardized processes, workflows, and tools that improve program execution efficiency and cross-functional coordination
• Prepare and deliver program status updates, technical risk assessments, and recovery plans to executive leadership

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated program management experience delivering complex hardware programs from development through mass production
• Experience in battery module or pack development, cell integration, or similar electromechanical assembly programs
• Experience with manufacturing line bring-up, production ramp, and managing engineering changes on a live production line
• Experience with abuse and safety testing (thermal runaway, crush, nail penetration) and translating test outcomes into design requirements
• Experience with prismatic or pouch cell module development
• Demonstrated ability to lead engineering decisions in cross-functional settings with authority and accountability
• Proven ability to communicate effectively to executive audiences — distilling complex technical issues into clear, actionable summaries
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize when programs compete for limited resources
• Track record of operating with high autonomy, earning trust from both engineers and leadership, and delivering results with minimal oversight

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)

Expected Compensation$144,800 - $217,200/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefitsPay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.