Manager, GFTX Manufacturing Quality

About the role

• Manager, GFTX Manufacturing Quality | Tesla (Manufacturing)
• Location: AUSTIN, Texas | Req ID: 284739 | Job Type: Full-time
• What to Expect

The Vehicle Quality Engineering Manager owns overall vehicle quality engineering for the manufacturing site / region: organization leadership, quality system effectiveness, new program launch readiness, production quality performance, and customer / field quality outcomes. This role leads Quality Engineers, specialists, and technicians across vehicle quality domains (process quality, attributes, dimensional, electrical/functional, audit/EOL, and issue management) and partners Design, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Production Control, and Service.

Unlike an individual-contributor attribute or process engineer, this manager sets quality strategy, allocates talent to the highest-risk failure modes and launches, drives structured problem solving to permanent corrective action, and represents quality status in plant leadership and program gates. Success is measured in people development, process capability, product conformity, launch quality, and sustained customer quality indicators.

What You'll Do

• Lead vehicle Quality Engineering for the assigned plant/product, setting priorities, standards, and operating cadence for engineers and technicians
• Own quality results for production and new launches, including gate readiness, risk burn-down, containment, and launch-to-rate performance
• Build and maintain quality systems — control plans, reaction plans, process audits, documentation, and layered process confirmation tied to real manufacturing conditions
• Drive structured problem solving (8D/DMAIC) from detection through permanent corrective action, and escalate systemic risks with options and recovery plans
• Allocate team capacity across process quality, vehicle attributes, audit/EOL, launch support, and field response based on data and business risk
• Partner with Design and Manufacturing Engineering on design-for-quality, process capability, and change management that protects outbound quality
• Track and improve core quality KPIs (FTQ, scrap/rework, audit fails, containment aging, warranty, customer quality) and report to plant and program leadership
• Lead plant-wide quality responses (stop-ship, hold, sort, rework) with disciplined communication and clear exit criteria
• Develop the team by coaching QEs and technicians, setting performance expectations, building technical depth, and creating succession for critical roles
• Benchmark external quality operating models, continuously improve methods and tools, and represent Quality Engineering in leadership reviews, program gates, and customer/corporate forums

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent experience
• 10+ years in automotive quality, manufacturing, or vehicle engineering, with growing responsibility
• 3+ years leading engineers and/or technicians preferred
• Proven ownership of plant- or vehicle-level quality, including launches and production problem solving
• Strong quality systems skills: control plans, PFMEA, audits, containment, structured RCA, and statistical thinking
• Able to lead cross-functional teams under launch/production pressure and brief senior leadership clearly
• Working knowledge of vehicle manufacturing and major quality domains (process, dimensional, functional/electrical, attributes)
• Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, quality data tools, and plant quality/issue-tracking systems
• Valid driver’s license; willing to work on the floor, support proving, and cover off-shifts as needed
• Preferred: prior quality manager experience, TPS/lean quality, volume OEM background, EV/multi-program launches, and Six Sigma/lean or leadership training

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)