Manufacturing Equipment Engineer, Drive Unit (m/w/d) - Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg

Tesla is accelerating the world's transition to sustainable energy. Revolutionary strategies and products were developed within a few years and successfully launched on a large scale. This is only possible through extraordinary speed, innovation and efficiency.

Gigafactory Berlin forms the perfect basis for rolling out Tesla's incredible success story in Europe. The most important pillar for this are our employees. Their passion, motivation and commitment ensure that we achieve our goals. We are looking for you to continue and expand this success story together.

The Role

An (Associate) Equipment Engineer in the Production Engineering team will be a part of operating, sustaining, and improving some of the most automated manufacturing equipment in the world. The best candidate for the position has a high aptitude to learn new skillsets in the position. The expectation is that an engineers will start with strengths in a given field and then learn all other areas from those who work with them. This role requires capability across the board to sustain all parts of the automated equipment. The expectation is not that you arrive on day 1 with this capability, but that you have the aptitude and desire to learn all aspects of automation.

- Own the full technical lifecycle of production equipment — from cradle to grave — including entire mechatronic systems, automation, and integration with manufacturing processes.
- Serve as the subject matter expert for equipment reliability, serviceability, and performance, collaborating cross-functionally with Design, Product Excellence, Production Operations, Manufacturing & Process Engineering, Maintenance, and other teams to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production.
- Lead equipment upgrades and continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability, process capability, and long-term maintainability.
- Define and own preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, including condition monitoring, failure mode analysis, and data-driven maintenance scheduling.
- Identify critical spare parts and ensure optimal inventory coverage to minimize unplanned downtime.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation: maintenance routines, service bulletins, troubleshooting guides, and training materials for all equipment phases.
- Interface test and process equipment with Tesla’s MES and production quality databases for real-time data integration and analytics.
- Design, execute, and improve equipment validation procedures, including calibration, qualification, and compliance with internal and external standards.
- Drive root cause analysis (RCA) using structured methodologies (e.g., 8D, DMAIC) to resolve complex equipment failures and prevent recurrence.
- Provide hands-on support during extended downtime events, enabling rapid resolution and minimizing production impact.

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Computer Engineering — or equivalent experience demonstrating exceptional technical ability.
- Proven experience with high-volume manufacturing equipment: nut runners, induction heating, chillers, servo presses, servo drives, pick-and-place robots, motorized conveyors, and EOL test systems (e.g., dynamometers, NVH, performance, efficiency testing).
- Strong understanding of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and development of Equipment-Related OCAPs (Out-of-Control Action Plans).
- Proficiency in predictive maintenance technologies — including vibration analysis, thermal imaging, oil analysis, and machine learning-based anomaly detection.
- Demonstrated ability in programming (Python, SQL, or similar) and data analysis to extract insights from equipment performance data.
- Excellent communication skills — both written and verbal — with the ability to present technical findings to diverse audiences.
- Experience in automotive or high-volume manufacturing is highly preferred.
- Commitment to Tesla’s mission: accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
- Fluent in English; German is a plus.
- Willingness to work flexible shifts, including nights and weekends, as required.