(associate/senior/lead) mechanical design engineer, automated test equipment, manufacturing test engineering

We seek a highly motivated, technically excellent engineering leader for a senior position in the Manufacturing Test Engineering group, a team focused on creating robust, beautiful, data-centric production testing equipment for Tesla's products. This team concentrates on mechanical, electrical, software, and controls of dense and reliable capital equipment for our production lines around the world. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the "machine that builds the machine".

The ideal candidate takes ownership of complex technical problems, mentors junior engineers, and drives technical strategy. They excel at hands-on engineering work, analytical rigor, cross-functional leadership, and systems-level thinking. They thrive in environments where superior work is encouraged, noticed, and rewarded and where senior individuals carry tremendous responsibility for technical direction and team success.

What You’ll Do

• Lead architecture and design of high-level and detailed-level automation equipment in CAD, establishing technical standards for the team.
• Drive technical strategy for test equipment platforms across multiple product lines.
• Mentor and develop mechanical engineers, providing technical guidance and design review feedback.
• Establish best practices for solid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics calculations; advance team capability in Thermal and Structural FEA, GD&T, tolerance stack-up analyses, and material selection.
• Lead conceptual development of novel test equipment, balancing product specifications, process requirements, layout complexity, cost, and aggressive lead-time constraints.
• Design for manufacturing and assembly concepts for complex, high-volume testers.
• Layout pneumatic and hydraulic schematics using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Own end-to-end test strategy, establishing clear test plans with focus on test time reduction, data integrity, and equipment simplicity.
• Lead design review meetings with senior stakeholders across design, manufacturing, sustaining, and firmware teams.
• Drive alignment across engineering, operations, and supply chain organizations throughout project lifecycle.
• Manage vendor relationships at strategic level, establishing technical partnerships and managing critical deliverables.
• Represent the team in technical discussions with executive leadership.
• Lead build, debug, validation, and release of complex equipment to production environments globally
• Perform on-site and off-site acceptance testing (SAT/FAT) of test equipment, making critical go/no-go decisions.
• Drive continuous improvement of deployed equipment, establishing sustaining engineering protocols
• Scale solutions globally, adapting designs for deployment across Tesla's manufacturing network.

What You’ll Bring

• 5+ years of demonstrated excellence in Product Development, Equipment/Machine Design, Manufacturing, or Testing environments.
• Proven track record of leading complex automation projects from concept through production deployment.
• Deep expertise in diagnostics software, hardware, tools, instruments, general electromechanical/mechatronic systems and measurement techniques.
• Expert-level proficiency in SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software; proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical
• Advanced understanding of pneumatics and hydraulics system design.
• Expert of various part fabrication techniques (machining, welding, sheet metal fabrication, laser cutting, etching, injection molding, 3D printing, hydroforming).
• Experience with DFM/DFA principles for high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Strong portfolio showcasing professional projects with demonstrated technical leadership and quantifiable impact.
• Proven ability to transition products and processes from prototype to high-volume production
• Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers.
• Track record of driving technical decisions in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority
• Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in Mechanical/Mechatronics Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 30%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience deploying equipment across multiple global manufacturing sites.
• Background in high-volume consumer electronics or automotive manufacturing.
• Experience with Industry 4.0 concepts, data-driven manufacturing, and IoT-enabled test equipment.
• Patent applications or publications in automation/test equipment domain.