Sr. Manager, Production Engineering, Solar Manufacturing

About the role

Sr. Manager, Production Engineering, Solar Manufacturing | Tesla (Manufacturing)

Location: Brookshire, Texas | Req ID: 283760 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

Tesla is seeking a Senior Production Engineering Manager to lead both Equipment and Process engineering efforts for crystalline silicon manufacturing at a massive 100 GW scale. You will help deploy solar manufacturing from raw materials in a new greenfield facility. Depending on experience, this role may support Ingot, Wafer, or Cell manufacturing.

This role owns the engineering strategy, process robustness, and multi-shift performance across all operations. You will build and mentor a high-performing team of Managers, engineers, and technical staff; set OEE targets; and drive yield, quality, and throughput from launch through high-volume manufacturing.

This is a hands-on senior leadership role for someone who can roll up their sleeves, grow people, and deliver results in a demanding, fast-paced environment. This role is core to Tesla's mission of accelerating the world's transition to amazing abundance.

What You'll Do

• Lead and develop Managers, engineers, and technical staff to achieve engineering goals
• During greenfield launch and ramp, own the production engineering plan for assigned processes (e.g., Czochralski crystal pulling, diamond wire saw slicing, texturing, wafer cleaning, thin film deposition, screen printing, and laser operations) - from readiness through stable high-volume performance
• Set and drive data-driven targets for OEE, yield, cycle time, scrap, and process capability; install the metrics, reviews, and escalation rhythms that Associate Managers and engineers run daily
• Own process control strategy for the area - control plans, PFMEA, process windows, and MES/data systems - so production is robust, repeatable, and audit-ready
• Lead structured problem-solving and continuous improvement (DOE, root cause analysis, lean) on chronic yield, quality, and equipment-effectiveness losses
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Design, Production, and NPI teams on new product/process introductions, equipment upgrades, and change control, aligning downtime windows and technical priorities with operations
• Ensure safety and environmental standards on the floor, including incident leadership support, hazard reduction, and strong 5S/operating discipline across the teams you lead

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or equivalent experience
• 12+ years in high-volume manufacturing with at least 9 years leading engineering and/or operations teams; semiconductor, solar ingot/wafer/cell, battery, or related precision manufacturing strongly preferred
• Proven track record of ramping complex automated processes from pilot/launch to volume, delivering yield, OEE, and quality outcomes through other leaders - not only as an individual contributor
• Hands-on fluency with lean manufacturing, process control, PFMEA/control plans, DOE, and root cause methods; strong use of production data, MES, and metrics storytelling for decision-making
• Familiarity with crystalline silicon process families such as crystal pulling, wafering, wet process/texturing/cleaning, deposition, screen printing, and laser operations
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills: hiring, coaching, and developing diverse teams in a 24/7 environment, with confidence presenting to senior leadership and aligning cross-functional partners
• Capability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally; travel will vary based on launch timing: more frequently during build, less during HVM and sustaining

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)