Technical Program Manager, Cell NPI

The Technical Program Manager (TPM) of the New Product Introduction (NPI) team is responsible for leading product process changes & supporting development of manufacturing processes for 4680 cell production.

The primary responsibility will be to lead the team in testing and validating systems parts & processes involved in cell production and manufacturing development, such as:

• Driving trials/builds on pilot/mass-production representative scale
• Maintaining program roadmaps
• Leading deep-dive technical challenge forums
• Aligning cross-functional members to common program priorities & KPIs

Kato Fremont, CA is a development-heavy site where different programs are at different levels of maturity, requiring technical engagement, cross-functional leadership & lots of coordination. Working with safety, design, manufacturing, quality, production engineering and service departments, you will lead cross-functional teams to ensure validation targets have been met for each change/trial/build ahead of scaling a technology or introducing changes into official program roadmaps.

Ultimately, you will manage introductions of major coordinated changes into our manufacturing systems and factories through multiple product phases.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop a deep understanding of our product design and manufacturing processes to technically inform impact of changes.
• Establish/maintain validation standards, develop testing protocols, lead trial/builds, equipment/production readiness.
• Lead data reviews of documented test results to inform conclusions to draw back to respective programs; maintain records.
• Lead program trials/builds across different levels of maturity (ABC-Phase Builds, Development builds, or DOEs, etc.), coordinate cross-functional effort within our existing manufacturing systems.
• Support design and engineering teams in early development trials/builds and scaling of product/process changes from pilot to mass production manufacturing scale.
• Support design and process engineers by doing data analysis and understanding how they need to align on managing change.
• Analyze and determine the optimal solutions for change coordination with manufacturing, other Tesla plants and suppliers, including EBOM, MBOM, Change Control, etc.
• Work with stakeholders to take a vague problem statement, refine the scope of the analysis and use the results to drive informed decisions.

Requirements:

• Degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or equivalent experience.
• 3 years of experience as a Technical Project/Program Manager in a high-volume manufacturing environment and experience with cross-functional management & being a technical leader.
• Experience in New Product Introduction or product/process launches & associated change management systems & validation methodologies.
• Experience in early to mature material/product phases.
• Ability to problem solve and adjust priorities in a fast-moving and constantly evolving high growth environment and comfort in an environment with unstructured, incomplete and ambiguous data.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience with pilot and/or mass production manufacturing; battery cell manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong engineering skills and proven track record of exceptional ability (i.e., you personally solved difficult problems that moved the needle on meaningful projects).

Production Operations Knowledge:

• Has a firm understanding of how complex production lines operate, including key items such as industrial workings between facilities/departments, line balance, OEE, error proofing, etc.
• Understanding of how the manufacturing validation process runs in relation to complex new products that stretch across various engineering teams and manufacturing centers/factories.
• Methodology, validation plans, associated KPIs.

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)
• 401k 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

Expected Compensation: $96,800 - $168,000 annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits.

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors including market location, job-related knowledge, skills and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.