Test Engineer, Abuse Engineering

About the role

Test Engineer, Abuse Engineering | Tesla (Engineering & Information Technology)

Location: Sparks, Nevada | Req ID: 251806 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

Cells are the common denominator for every Tesla product. In the Abuse Testing & Engineering group, we push battery systems to their limits and beyond using specialized equipment to apply electrical, mechanical, and thermal stresses. Our goal is to provide rapid feedback to inform designs early in development, by understanding how robust systems perform under abusive conditions.

We accommodate external regulations but have a strong focus on internal requirements and testing to failure. Every Tesla battery product comes through our lab, both vehicles and energy storage. Our environment is fast-paced and incredibly exciting.

We are looking for an Engineer to join a team working at a remote off-grid test site near the Nevada Gigafactory. In this role, you would continue growing the site infrastructure, build test equipment, and maintain the facility. In addition, the role would entail working alongside multiple Engineers, you would frequently coordinate and execute destructive tests and be responsible for continuously ongoing hazardous lifetime tests. As a result, you would help ensure that electric vehicles and energy storage systems are robust to high levels of abuse.

What You'll Do

• Coordinate and execute abusive tests across multiple programs
• Build test equipment, such as a car crusher, replica building with fire extinguishing, battery chargers and power cyclers, electrical and thermal data sensors and acquisition, and continuous video recording
• Recognize and propose further improvements to test site and equipment
• Troubleshoot issues with test equipment and sensors, site electrical power or IT, etc.
• Maintain facility, ensure smooth operation when outside teams visit for tests
• Communicate with remote teams to schedule trips, receive, and prepare test samples, conduct tests jointly, perform post-test inspection and disposal
• Coordinate daily technician activities

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
• Ideal focus areas include; equipment commissioning, construction, testing
• 3+ years’ experience working in the field
• Must be mentally tough, excellent at field work in variable conditions
• Bonus: Experience with programming (Python ideally), electrical communications (CAN), or battery cycling equipment

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)