Engineering Manager, Vendor Manufacturing Engineering

Battery Cells are the common denominator for every Tesla product. Our product requirements demand ground-up cell architectures with state-of-the-art performance, manufactured at volumes that are orders of magnitude higher than the products they power. Our environment is fast-paced and incredibly exciting. Tesla moves quickly, so being passionate and self-motivated to push your limits is critical. Our team works alongside engineering groups across various disciplines, requiring strong communication skills and a team-first mentality. You will work alongside seasoned industry experts, high aptitude recent graduates, and people from every stage in between.

We are seeking an experienced Manager to lead our Vendor Manufacturing Engineering (VME) team, responsible for ensuring that our suppliers' manufacturing processes and capabilities meet Tesla’s quality, reliability, and performance standards. The successful candidate will have a strong background in manufacturing engineering, supplier development, and quality assurance, with excellent leadership and communication skills.

• Lead a team of VME engineers responsible for assessing and developing suppliers' manufacturing capabilities, including tooling, equipment, and process validation

• Oversee the Supplier Assessment Process for new sourcing, ensuring that suppliers meet our company's quality, reliability, and performance standards

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Quality, Engineering, and Procurement, to develop and implement supplier process specifications, equipment specifications, and PFMEAs (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)

• Ensure that suppliers' processes and equipment meet our company's CTQs (Critical-to-Quality) requirements at Start of Production (SOP)

• Manage the development and implementation of new parts, tools, equipment, and processes, including inline metrology and MI (Manufacturing Instruction) creation

• Conduct supplier equipment buy-offs and process capability buy-offs to ensure compliance with Tesla standards

• Investigate and resolve supplier-related issues, including FA (Failure Analysis) and CA (Corrective Action) activities

• Collaborate with Cell Design team for the creation of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) documents to ensure that designs are manufacturable and meet Tesla’s quality and reliability standards

• Develop and execute material flow and handling specifications to ensure efficient and effective supplier-to-internal manufacturing transitions

• Serve as the packaging specification owner, ensuring that packaging meets our company's quality, safety, and regulatory requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent experience

• Minimum 8 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, supplier development, or quality assurance, with at least 3 years of leadership experience

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, tooling, and equipment, including experience with PFMEA, FMEA, and control plans

• Experience with lean manufacturing principles and techniques

• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills, with ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and suppliers

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with ability to investigate and resolve complex supplier-related issues

• Experience with quality management systems, including ISO 9001 and IATF 16949

• Strong project management skills, with ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously