Process Development Engineer, Cathode Materials Manufacturing

About the role

Process Development Engineer, Cathode Materials Manufacturing | Tesla (Manufacturing)

Location: Sparks, Nevada | Req ID: 270393 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

Tesla’s Cathode team is looking for a highly motivated Process Development Engineer to work on a critical challenge facing the world’s energy transition – Battery Cathode Materials. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to Tesla’s world-class manufacturing facilities. Tesla is a demanding and fast-paced environment where you will work on a critical subsystem of an incredibly exciting product.

As a member of the process development team, the candidate will develop, implement, and optimize process improvements as well as help develop future processes through the application of first engineering principles. The candidate will also be expected to execute the design of experiments to gather relevant data to guide scale up design, inform process parameter tolerances, improve material performance, and reduce production costs.

What You'll Do

• Apply engineering fundamentals and a broad set of process engineering tools to solve technical problems from unit operations (mixing, dosing, milling, drying, calcination, etc.) and create novel detailed designs to address root cause of issue
• Design, build, procure and commission lab/pilot scale unit operate equipment
• Establish R&D programs, pilot trial, test plan with 3rd party, and transfer process knowledge of high-intensity unit operations so that they may be scaled safely and effectively
• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies to drive innovation and enhance process capabilities through future phases
• Support safe day-to-day operation, including facility/utility improvement projects
• Utilize lab and pilot data to guide commercial plan design
• Provide engineering support to manufacturing teams to help resolve process bottlenecks and other long-standing issues

What You'll Bring

• Degree or equivalent experience in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field
• Mechnical engineering trained and experience in chemical/material industrial is highly desired
• Experience with solid powder processing, like lithium-ion battery cathode materials
• 2-4+ years of experience in process development, pilot and scale up
• Strong equipment design, troubleshooting and hand-on skills
• Past experience in one or more unit operations: mixing, dosing, milling, drying, calcination
• Excellent data analysis and technical presentation abilities
• A positive, “do the impossible” attitude and ability to communicate with peers and stakeholders at all levels and engineering disciplines
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment

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)