Sr. Engineering Program Manager, Thermal Systems

Engineering Program ManagerTesla's Energy Engineering group is looking for a highly motivated individual to program manage thermal system design engineering for Energy Products, including the Megapack and Powerpack. Thermal systems sit at the intersection of nearly every constraint on the product: performance, cost, acoustics, reliability, and safety. This is a cross-functional role that requires coordination between many different groups within and outside of Tesla. You will interface with thermal and mechanical design engineering, controls and firmware, manufacturing engineering and operations, supply chain, compliance, reliability, safety and field operations to define and drive development of new thermal architectures while also managing change on existing programs.As part of the Engineering Program Management team, you will be immersed in the design, validation, and manufacturing process for the thermal systems and will shepherd projects from concept through prototype validation and into production ramp. You will use your engineering background to understand thermal performance and manufacturing requirements, manage technical risks, and define validation and integration strategies that accelerate development and manufacturing bring-up. You will communicate and present program status, highlight schedule risk, and develop recovery plans in the event of project slip.As an Engineering Program Manager, you will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy on your programs while contributing to the development of tools and processes that improve the organization's productivity. You will be based out of the Bay Area (Palo Alto) with the expectation of some travel to our manufacturing facilities and test sites in California, Houston or China, as program needs dictate.ResponsibilitiesWork with Thermal and Mechanical Design Engineering, Controls and Firmware, Manufacturing Engineering and Operations, Facilities and Construction, Reliability, Safety, Compliance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing and other supporting functions to identify and scope thermal projects for key Industrial Energy ProductsManage product cost down and quality improvements across the thermal system including compressors, heat exchangers, pumps, valves and thermal interface materialsOwn the thermal validation schedule and execution, including environmental chamber testing, high-ambient/heat-rejection testing, NVH validation, and correlation of thermal models to test dataCreate, maintain, communicate, and present schedules to the engineering leadership team, covering thermal design, validation, and manufacturing readinessFacilitate build planning and execution across prototype, pilot, and production phases; track part readiness, build health, and validation completionManage change control and configuration management, ensuring smooth transitions across design iterations and build phasesPrioritize the engineering team's work based on risk, resources and paybackIdentify creative ways to overcome obstacles and meet the schedule despite setbacksRefine processes, tools, and templates that will improve risk and change management across Energy programsRequirementsProven experience leading complex engineering programs for mass production products (automotive, energy, HVAC, or hardware systems preferred)Working knowledge of thermal systems — refrigerant and/or liquid cooled loops, heat transfer fundamentals, and thermal validation methods — sufficient to challenge technical assumptions and assess risk independentlyDemonstrated experience with the engineering product design cycle, manufacturing line bring-up, and ramp to mass productionDemonstrated experience creating, maintaining, and communicating schedules across multiple engineering functionsDemonstrated understanding of multilevel Bill of Material structures, hardware/software integration, and product release/change managementDetail oriented with strong record-keeping and organizational skillsExperience driving cross-functional alignment between engineering, supply chain, operations, and manufacturing teamsDegree in an Engineering discipline, preferably Mechanical, Thermal/Fluids, Manufacturing, or a closely related field or equivalent experienceCompensation & BenefitsBenefitsAlong 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 deductionFamily-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefitsDental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contributionCompany Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSAHealthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefitsCompany paid Basic Life, AD&DShort-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)Employee Assistance ProgramSick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid HolidaysBack-up childcare and parenting support resourcesVoluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insuranceWeight Loss and Tobacco Cessation ProgramsTesla Babies programCommuter benefitsEmployee discounts and perks programExpected Compensation$144,800 - $217,200/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefitsPay 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.