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 & inkulation 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 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 N2, O2, Ar, H2, 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 byproducts (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 BPVC, ASTM, ISO, NFPA,…