Cell Engineer, In House Cell Development

Staff Cell Engineer, In-House Cell Development

Location: Sunnyvale, CA

Salary: $100,000 - $216,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

What to Expect: Tesla’s Cell Engineering team is looking for a highly motivated, experienced engineer to lead the cross‑functional design and launch of battery cells manufactured in‑house by Tesla. This role will serve as the engineering program leader, driving efforts across multiple organizations to progress a cell from conceptual design and prototyping into mass production.

This position requires deep familiarity with Li⁺ cell design and validation, a passion for launching new technologies, and the ability to pull people together to make things happen. You will need to be technically curious, detail oriented, and comfortable delivering results in an unstructured environment, collaborating across Cell Design, Cell Modeling, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Production organizations.

• Drive key engineering decisions across teams to move new cells from concept to mass production
• Lead the cross‑functional working team through design, qualification, and ramp challenges to a successful cell launch
• Collaborate with Tesla product teams to define cell electrochemical, mechanical, and safety performance requirements
• Own the program operating system:
  Level 1–3 schedules, risk register, open decisions/actions
• Synthesize test results and manufacturing challenges into program‑level impacts and report regularly to Tesla leadership
• Travel to lab, pilot, and production sites to provide on‑site leadership during critical phases of the cell program lifecycle

• Degree in Material Science, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent experience
• 4+ years of experience in cell development/engineering
• Deep familiarity with Li⁺ battery design and battery materials
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required
• Works well under pressure, adapts to changes quickly, and manages conflicting priorities
• Ability to work cross‑functionally and lead large teams
• Experience in a high‑throughput manufacturing environment (semiconductor, solar, batteries, specialty chemicals) a plus
• Able and willing to travel to Tesla or vendor sites up to 20% of the time

• Aetna PPO and HSA plans – 2 medical plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family‑building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both with $0 paycheck contribution options
• Company‑Paid Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Aetna 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
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and vacation time (flex time for salary 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

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Industry: Motor Vehicle Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Utilities