About this role
Tesla is seeking a Sr. Technical Program Manager, NPI to lead new product and process introductions across solar manufacturing at a massive 100 GW scale. This role will be a core leader in our new Solar Manufacturing organization and will own taking new products, materials, and processes from concept through pilot, ramp, and handoff into high-volume manufacturing within a new greenfield facility. Scope spans all process areas, including Ingot, Wafer, and Cell manufacturing. This is a hands-on program and people leadership role for someone who thrives on cross-functional execution, launching processes, and delivering world-class safety, quality, delivery, and cost. This role is core to Tesla's mission of accelerating the world's transition to amazing abundance. You will be a key driver of manufacturing readiness and ramp performance from development into the shop floor.
- Lead and develop a team responsible for executing new product, material, and process introductions into the factory from program scope and definition through MBOM creation, supply chain readiness, pilot builds, and production implementation
- Plan, organize, and orchestrate pre-launch and pilot activities including slow builds, material and process trials, design/process iterations, equipment and process qualification, production readiness gates, and sample-size trials
- Scale introductions into mass production with high reliability, repeatability, and robustness to hit aggressive ramp schedules alongside operations teams
- Lead cross-functional readiness across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain; track blockers, drive recovery plans, and provide clear status at working and executive forums
- Oversee manufacturing validation and handoff from launch planning to production ownership, including factory/line transition, production release of process documentation, training readiness, and excess/obsolescence follow-through
- Own change control for NPI introductions, ensuring design, process, and material changes are assessed, approved, implemented, and closed with full traceability
- Ensure PFMEA, control plans, work instructions, standardized work, and release packages are complete before production release, and continuously improve the NPI playbook for faster, cleaner introductions
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent professional experience
- 10+ years of experience in a mix of engineering and project management fields with evidence of exceptional ability managing multiple complex programs/projects simultaneously; solar or semiconductor strongly preferred
- Proven people leadership experience building, coaching, and holding a technical team accountable for program delivery
- Experience supporting factory launch, equipment start-up, technology transfer, or production ramp
- Strong understanding of multidiscipline engineering fundamentals and ability to apply first-principles problem solving
- Working knowledge of standardized work, lean manufacturing, SPC, DOE, PFMEA, change control, and structured problem-solving frameworks
- Clear written and verbal communication with operators, engineers, and senior leadership
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