Project Engineer, Lithium Refinery

About the role

• Project Engineer, Lithium Refinery | Tesla (Manufacturing)
• Location: Robstown, Texas | Req ID: 271710 | Job Type: Full-time
• What to Expect

Tesla’s Gulf Coast Lithium Refinery is seeking an experienced Project Engineer to provide technical engineering leadership in the design, execution, and commissioning of small-to-medium capital projects, equipment upgrades, and process modifications for our novel flowsheet. This role owns the engineering deliverables that ensure inherent safety, mechanical integrity, and long-term reliability of assets converting spodumene concentrate to battery-grade lithium hydroxide in a fast-paced and innovative environment while directly supporting the Maintenance, Reliability, Process Controls, and Process Safety teams.

What You'll Do

• Lead the full engineering scope of capital projects and site modifications—from conceptual design through detailed engineering, procurement support, construction oversight, and startup—applying first-principles thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, fluid mechanics, and materials science to optimize pressure leach autoclaves, calciners, pressure filters, crystallizers, slurry pumps, and solids handling systems
• Develop, review, and approve process and mechanical deliverables including P&IDs, equipment datasheets, piping specifications, relief system calculations, and hydraulic models to ensure compliance with ASME, API, and regulatory requirements
• Lead or support Management of Change (MOC) and Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) processes, performing technical risk assessments and verifying layers of protection in alignment with the site PSM program (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119)
• Provide field engineering support during project installation, outage execution, and commissioning, resolving design or installation issues in real time to minimize schedule impact and ensure post-startup performance targets (MTBF, availability, efficiency) are achieved
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Reliability Engineering, Process Safety, Procurement & Materials, and Operations to integrate predictive maintenance features, corrosion monitoring, and control system enhancements into project designs
• Conduct technical evaluations of vendor packages, perform design reviews, and apply root-cause analysis to drive lessons-learned into future projects, focusing on total cost of ownership and OpEx reduction
• Track project engineering KPIs (design quality, change order rate, and commissioning success) and contribute to continuous improvement of project execution standards and templates

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent Experience in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline from an ABET-accredited program
• 5+ years of progressive project engineering experience in chemical processing, hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, or refining
• Demonstrated proficiency in developing and reviewing process/mechanical deliverables, performing hydraulic and relief calculations, and applying codes/standards (ASME, API 510/570/580, NFPA)
• Working knowledge of CMMS/ERP systems, project management tools (MS Project or equivalent), and first-principles engineering software (Aspen, AutoCAD Plant 3D, or equivalent)
• Proven ability to deliver safe, on-time, and on-budget technical solutions in a PSM-regulated, commissioning-to-steady-state refinery environment
• Strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills with a passion for applying rigorous engineering fundamentals to real-world lithium refinery challenges

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)