Staff Battery Cell Engineer, Reliability & Modeling

Battery cells are the common denominator for every Tesla product. We want team-focused employees with strong communication skills who challenge and want to be challenged, and who create and innovate. We want teammates who will thrive in a fast-paced company with real hardware and are self-motivated, disciplined, and detail oriented.

In this role you will work with Cell Qualification, suppliers, and Manufacturing / Production (MP) to push cell reliability and lifetime on vendor LFP and NMC programs. You will own ongoing reliability testing (ORT), build electrochemical and mechanical models of cell failure from that data, validate cycle life and other tester methods, and transfer qualification learnings into production.

- Own ngoing Reliability Testing (ORT) for vendor cell programs (LFP and NMC): test intent, execution, data review, and escalation with suppliers and Cell Qualification
- Align ORT protocols, sample plans, and pass/fail criteria with Cell Qualification as a program transition from NPI to MP
- Drive containment and root cause when ORT flags capacity fade, impedance growth, swelling, or safety-relevant events
- Use ORT and accelerated-life data to model cell failure modes — electrochemical (SEI, lithium plating, cathode fade, impedance) and mechanical (swelling, jelly-roll deformation, can stress)
- Turn models into early-warning metrics and reliability risk assessments for SIE, Qualification, and MP
- Validate testers and methods (capacity, DCIR/EIS, thickness/swelling, abuse-adjacent checks) so supplier and Tesla data are comparable
- Review supplier and third-party test packages against Tesla’s cell test intent
- Partner with the Cell Qualification team on cell performance (charge capability, energy, lifetime, degradation) and carry those learnings into MP process controls, and ramp gates

- Degree in electrochemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience
- Hands-on lithium-ion testing, including cycle life, calendar life, and ORT or equivalent reliability programs
- Working knowledge of LFP and NMC degradation and failure modes, both electrochemical and mechanical
- Ability to turn test data into models or statistical/physics-based predictions using Python, MATLAB, Abaqus, or similar
- Experience with cell testers, characterization (capacity, impedance, thickness/swelling), and test-method validation
- Comfortable working across Cell Qualification, suppliers, and manufacturing, with clear written and verbal communication
- Bias for hardware and data, and for closing the loop from lab result to production control
- Vendor-cell or supplier-industrialization background, such as incoming cell quality, PPAP-style qualification, or ORT at a cell maker or OEM
- Structural modeling of cells (swelling, can, jelly roll) alongside electrochemistry
- Direct handoff of qualification findings into mass-production controls, plus exposure to high-volume cell manufacturing

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
- Earned Wage Access: Real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels)
Expected Compensation $132,000 - $295,800/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.