Sr. Manager, Cell Manufacturing, Cathode Production

About the role

Sr. Manager, Cell Manufacturing, Cathode Production | Tesla (Manufacturing)

Location: AUSTIN, Texas | Req ID: 284152 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

Tesla is seeking a Senior Manager, Cell Manufacturing to lead Cathode Production at Gigafactory Texas. This leader owns cathode electrode production — Mixing, Calendering/Lamination, and Slitting — across multiple production lines, delivering 4680C and 4680D electrode that feeds cell assembly.

This is a people-and-results role. You will lead a team of production managers, supervisors, operators, and technicians, and you will be accountable for safety, quality, yield, throughput, cost, and staffing across the cathode shop. Your technical judgment and operating discipline will drive decisions with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Materials, and downstream Cell Assembly.

Tesla is a demanding, fast-paced manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate builds a high-performance culture, develops other leaders, and runs a world-class cathode operation with urgency, ownership, and clarity.

What You'll Do

• Own cathode electrode production (Mixing, Cal-Lam, and Slitting), including daily production planning, delivery to plan, first-time yield, equipment effectiveness, safety, quality, cost, and staffing
• Ensure safety and conduct policies are the first priority on the floor, and drive environmental compliance across the operation
• Hire, coach, lead, and develop production managers, supervisors, and large-scale hourly teams; build bench strength and a high-performance culture
• Monitor, diagnose, and report production KPIs (output, yield, scrap, availability, IEE, WIP/inventory) to technical and leadership teams, and drive action from the data
• Drive high quality and yield through process control, standard work, 5S, and rapid response to process deviations, quality holds, and major downtime
• Maintain equipment in optimal operating condition by partnering with Maintenance on preventative and corrective work, and by owning the production response to faults and downtime
• Facilitate development and support new product, process, and material introductions — including 4680C / 4680D program mix — by partnering with Engineering and Quality, tracking issues, and hitting project timelines

What You'll Bring

• 8+ years of experience in high-volume manufacturing, including 5+ years leading managers or large multi-shift production teams; lithium-ion battery or electrode manufacturing experience strongly preferred
• Degree in Engineering or a technical discipline, or equivalent experience
• Experience owning a multi-process or multi-line operation (mixing, calendering, slitting, or similar continuous/web processes a plus) while Demonstrating the ability to meet production plans under pressure while holding the line on safety and quality
• Ability to build and use production performance metrics (safety, quality, yield, throughput, IEE/availability, cost) and drive action from them
• Comfort using data analysis and AI tools to diagnose production issues, identify trends, and drive faster, better decisions
• Proven ability to lead technical problem solving using lean manufacturing tools (e.g., 5-Why, fishbone, A3, standard work, and structured root-cause analysis)
• Strong command of the English language both written and verbal

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)