Sr. Manager, Optimus Operations

The Senior Manager, Optimus Operations sets the vision and strategic path for Production, Maintenance, and Engineering within a major shop at Tesla’s new Optimus Factory in Austin, Texas. Openings span operations leadership across multiple shops—including Plastics, Machining, Actuators, and Assembly. Each role leads their shop teams and cross-functional partners to achieve Safety, People, Quality, Production/Delivery, and Cost KPI targets.

This role is responsible for production and resource planning; coaching, mentoring, and developing leaders; launching new Optimus manufacturing processes and programs successfully; and daily tactical planning and execution to achieve the build plan and meet safety, quality, rate, and cost targets. The person in this role must guide the team through complex issues, distill large volumes of data to solve problems, and drive day-over-day continuous improvement in a high-volume, high-precision factory environment.

This Senior Manager provides hands-on support, leadership, and direction on all operational, team morale, and equipment-related matters. The person in this role builds teams that work cohesively and perform at the highest level—keeping Tesla’s mission and the goals of the Optimus program in mind—while partnering closely with peer shop leaders and factory leadership across the Austin Optimus Factory.

- Set the vision and strategic path for Production and Maintenance in an assigned Optimus shop and lead the team to Safety, People, Quality, Production, and Cost KPI targets

- Drive tactical planning to hit the production build plan with the highest safety, quality, and yield, including identifying bottlenecks and addressing availability, efficiency, and yield constraints

- Launch new Optimus programs and lead production ramps and product/process design changes through resource planning, program management, and partnership with NPI, Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain

- Guide the team through root cause analysis, first-principles thinking, and data-driven problem solving while maintaining standardized work and quality/safety compliance

- Coach, mentor, and develop Production, Maintenance, and Engineering leaders, instill process standardization and training, and drive continuous improvement

- Lead the maintenance organization on equipment availability, preventive and predictive maintenance, spare parts strategy, and uptime improvements for shop-critical assets

- Build a high-performing team with clear goals and feedback, improve morale with HR, and collaborate with peer shop Senior Managers to share best practices

- Degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Materials, or Industrial Engineering preferred, or equivalent experience

- 7–10 years of leadership and manufacturing experience, preferably in automotive, robotics, plastics, precision machining, electromechanical assembly/actuators, general assembly, or another highly technical manufacturing environment

- Analytical, detail-oriented, self-driven critical thinker who communicates proactively and works well in a fast-paced, multicultural factory environment

- Experience with process-improvement methodologies, DOE/statistical methods, lean and world-class manufacturing practices, and standing up or ramping new factories, shops, or production lines

- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work under pressure, juggle competing priorities, and meet tight deadlines

- Ability to use structured problem-solving methods such as 8D, fishbone diagrams, and 5-Why analysis to resolve production problems

- High-level leadership and decision-making skills with a strong sense of urgency in a greenfield/new-factory ramp, plus proficiency in MS Office, Visio, CAD, SPC, data-analysis tools, Jira, Tableau/BI dashboards, and project-management tools

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