Sr. Process Design Engineer, Infrastructure Design

What to Expect

Tesla is seeking a highly experienced Process Design Engineer with deep chemical engineering expertise and a proven track record of leading complex process scopes to join our R&D/Manufacturing Design team in Fremont, CA. Our design team spearheads the creation of mechanical process systems that enable R&D testing, cell production, and energy manufacturing across Tesla's global sites.

This full‑time, onsite role within the infrastructure group demands technical leadership, end‑to‑end process ownership, and hands‑on design excellence across highly technical environments-including dry rooms, clean rooms, and advanced manufacturing facilities. You'll lead process design efforts spanning all Tesla programs—Autopilot, Energy, Vehicle/Semi, AI, Robotics (Optimus), and Cell Manufacturing—delivering scalable, compliant solutions that align with our mission to build a world of amazing abundance.

• Lead full process design scopes from concept through construction for R&D laboratories, dry rooms, clean rooms, and high‑tech manufacturing facilities. Apply advanced chemical engineering fundamentals to solve complex, first‑of‑kind design challenges across diverse process systems.
• Develop and own comprehensive Basis of Design (BoD) documents, process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping & instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), specifications, operating sequences, and construction‑ready design packages.
• Serve as the technical authority on process design decisions, confidently justifying approaches to leadership and executive teams.
• Define and enforce environmental classifications, cleanliness standards, and atmospheric control requirements (e.g., dew point, particulate levels, temperature/humidity) for dry rooms and clean rooms.
• Conduct capacity planning, risk analysis, and lifecycle cost assessments for large‑scale capital infrastructure projects.
• Lead or facilitate process hazard analyses (PHA), HAZOP reviews, and design reviews across all process systems.
• Partner with manufacturing, construction, commissioning, and facilities stakeholders to align technical solutions with operational needs and end‑user requirements.
• Prioritize and deliver high‑quality results across multiple concurrent projects in fast‑paced, high‑stakes environments.
• Synthesize complex technical data into compelling presentations and communicate effectively to executive and cross‑functional audiences.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and cross‑functional design team members, fostering alignment and driving technical excellence without direct reporting authority.

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering (or closely related discipline); advanced degree preferred, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in chemical process design, process engineering, or process operations, with significant time spent at both an owner/operator and an EPC/design firm. Emphasis on design of new installations is required.
• Demonstrated experience leading process design scopes for dry rooms, clean rooms (ISO Class 5‑8), R&D laboratories, and/or advanced manufacturing facilities.
• Professional design experience across a wide range of critical utility and process systems, including but not limited to compressed dry air (CDA) and instrument air, RODI/ultrapure water purification and distribution, industrial water and waste treatment systems, central vacuum systems, high‑purity cryogenic and bulk gas distribution (liquid/gaseous N, O, Ar, H, etc.), HVAC integration for environmental control (dew point, particulate, temperature, humidity), chemical distribution systems (CDS).
• Experience designing and optimizing abatement and exhaust systems for electrolytes, solvents, and hazardous by‑products (e.g., carbon adsorption beds, regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs), wet/dry scrubbers) to ensure compliance with environmental and safety regulations.
• Extensive experience in one or more of the following sectors: cell/battery manufacturing, semiconductor fabrication, high‑tech R&D, biotech/pharmaceutical, or data centers.
• Strong working knowledge of North American codes, standards, and regulations (API, ASME, ASME…