Equipment Engineer, Optimus Battery

Description

Tesla is seeking an Equipment Engineer to operate, sustain, and optimize advanced manufacturing equipment and leading-edge technologies for Optimus Battery pack production. The battery pack provides energy storage for Optimus. You will own equipment performance — uptime, reliability, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) — on automated stations and lines in a high-volume factory. 

The strongest candidates have a high aptitude for learning and adapting quickly, with a strong background in at least one of the following disciplines: PLC programming, 6-axis robots, Python scripting, SCADA, mechanical design and analysis, vision systems, or electrical testers. You will constantly apply critical thinking and structured problem-solving on automated equipment while developing skills outside your primary expertise. The ideal candidate is hands-on, data-driven, and comfortable mentoring Maintenance and Controls through extended downtime in a fast-paced production environment. 

This role supports 24/7 production operations, including remote or on-site support during escalations, and flexible hours during launch, ramp, and critical downtime events as business needs require. 

Responsibilities

• Support 24/7 operations either remotely or on site during escalations, and flexible hours during launch, ramp, and critical downtime; provide timely, accurate troubleshooting to protect rate and yield 

• Troubleshoot equipment issues efficiently and implement countermeasures and continuous-improvement projects to reduce downtime and efficiency loss, partnering in real time with Process, Quality, Controls, Production, and Maintenance 

• Provide hands-on support and mentorship to Maintenance and Controls teams to resolve extended downtime situations 

• Program, teach, and troubleshoot industrial 6-axis robots (Fanuc) for applications such as material handling and dispense on Optimus Battery lines 

• Commission, troubleshoot, and optimize motion-control systems with VFDs and servo motors (PowerFlex, Kinetix, SINAMICS/SiMotion, Lenze, LTI, Itoh Denki, or equivalent) 

• Diagnose equipment failures, identify root causes, and develop strategies to mitigate or eliminate the frequency, severity, and impact of failure modes across electrical, mechanical, industrial networks, and controls systems 

• Own and present station-level and line-level metrics; plan and implement continuous-improvement projects to improve OEE across automated stations 

• Lead equipment upgrades, retrofits, and repairs with focus on design intent, manufacturability, serviceability, reliability, and process capability 

• Create, propose, implement, and improve standard operating procedures and technical documentation for sustained ownership (SOPs, troubleshooting guides, HMI standards, drawings and schematics, and training materials) 

• Ensure site safety practices on equipment work, including safety control devices, safety logic, Lockout/Tagout, guarding, and applicable machine-safety standards 

Requirements

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Robotics Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience 

• 3+ years in an automated, high-volume manufacturing facility 

• Experience programming, troubleshooting, and integrating PLC platforms with ladder logic and structured text (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff) 

• Experience commissioning and optimizing equipment, with a demonstrated track record of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) improvement 

• Working knowledge of electrical, mechanical, industrial networks, and controls systems sufficient to diagnose complex equipment failures 

• Robotics maintenance, troubleshooting, optimization, and programming preferred (Fanuc or equivalent 6-axis platforms); ability to read mechanical drawings and electrical schematics, with HMI development and Ignition experience preferred 

• Experience with safety control devices and safety logic preferred 

• Strong problem-solving skills and aptitude for learning systems quickly; able to use structured methods such as DMAIC, Ishikawa, 5-Why, or 8D and turn high-level performance issues into addressable actions 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to work effectively with Maintenance, Controls, Process, Quality, Production, and peer engineering teams under changing priorities, with a creative capacity to develop better, more cost-effective, faster solutions 

• Ability to work hands-on on the factory floor and support 24/7 operations coverage, including remote or on-site escalation support 

Compensation and Benefits

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible 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 (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly 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
• Earned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)