Thermal Test Engineer, Hardware Test Engineering

About the role

Thermal Test Engineer, Hardware Test Engineering | Tesla (Engineering & Information Technology)

Location: Fremont, California | Req ID: 280069 | Job Type: Full-time

What to Expect

We are a fast-growing, diverse team of multi-disciplinary engineers dedicated to advancing Tesla’s mission of accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy—specifically through the validation of thermal systems for our vehicle programs. From concept to production, our team ensures the functionality, performance, and durability of critical thermal hardware across all Tesla vehicle platforms.

As a Thermal Test Engineer, you will take a leading role in designing and executing comprehensive test plans that validate the performance of thermal systems including battery conditioning, cabin climate control, powertrain cooling, and HVAC components.

You’ll be responsible for shaping validation strategy, driving root cause investigations, and ensuring our systems meet stringent quality and reliability targets in real-world conditions. This role offers the opportunity to work across multiple vehicle programs—from current production to future platforms—and to collaborate closely with design, integration, reliability, manufacturing, and software teams.

You’ll have the autonomy to lead test initiatives, improve methodologies, and mentor junior engineers, while influencing the design of next-generation thermal systems through data-driven insights. We’re looking for a highly motivated engineer with strong technical fundamentals, hands-on experience in vehicle or component-level testing, and a passion for problem-solving in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

If you’re excited about working at the intersection of innovation and impact, and want to help shape the future of electric vehicles, we’d love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Own and drive hardware validation efforts for thermal management components and subsystems such as compressors, A/C lines, heat exchangers, hoses, coolant pumps, HVAC blowers and electronic valves. Your job is to figure out how these products could fail and to collaborate with design partners to drive changes
• Test, debug, and validate vehicle thermal hardware and firmware at the component, system, and full vehicle levels — including the debugging and validation of Tesla designed testing equipment and systems within a dedicated test infrastructure for comprehensive validation and performance
• Write and maintain test software to automate test execution, data collection and data analysis.  Optimize test setups and infrastructure, driving continuous improvements and greater efficiency in validation processes
• Manage tests from setup through execution and reporting, including test planning, traceability, development, execution, inspections, root cause analysis, and data processing
• Ensure test findings are well-documented and quickly communicated to external teams, root cause test failures and work with design and software partners, failure analysis lab, reliability team and potentially suppliers to arrive at a corrective action
• Develop and maintain validation schedules, coordinate test resources, and communicate status/blockers to program managers
• Actively engage with teams across the organization to seek assistance, identify company tools, and propose process enhancements that elevate our testing setups and overall validation processes

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Mechatronics Engineering, or equivalent experience
• Strong high-level background in CAN communication, including hands-on experience with network configuration, integration, and troubleshooting within automotive or similar embedded systems environments
• Coding experience with Python, Pytest, Git, and/or C
• Experience using standard lab and test equipment such as power supplies, DAQs, pressure transducers, flow meters, temperature sensorsA background in Thermodynamics with an understanding of refrigeration and coolant systems. Working principals of common thermal components
• Experience configuring and maintaining Jenkins pipelines to streamline development and support continuous integration processes is considered an asset
• Familiarity with Linux-based development environments and command-line tools for managing test equipment, running automated tests, and debugging hardware/system issues
• Experience working with high voltage and low voltage component validation (inverters, power electronics, motors)
• Experience using controlled environmental chambers to perform validation tests, develop and execute test plans, and verify system performance under varying conditions Familiarity with applying electrical engineering principles to troubleshoot and validate both vehicle systems and test infrastructure setups is a plus

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)

Expected Compensation$91,600 - $195,600/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefitsPay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.