Production Engineer, Lithium

What to Expect

Tesla's Gulf Coast Lithium Refinery is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented Production Engineer to support the commissioning, startup, and long-term operation of our first-of-its-kind facility. In this role, you will collaborate closely with Operations and Process Design teams to bring the plant online safely and efficiently, then transition into a run-plant engineering position focused on driving stable, high-quality, and cost-effective production.

This is a rare opportunity to play a critical role in scaling a novel chemical manufacturing process that supports Tesla's mission to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.

What You'll Do

• Support Commissioning and Startup activities to deliver a safe, cost-effective, schedule-aligned ramp to stable refinery operations
• Ensure all Management of Change (MOC) requirements are followed throughout commissioning and startup
• Participate in pre-startup safety reviews and hazard studies
• Apply First-Principles Thinking to diagnose issues and develop technical solutions
• Analyze, improve, and optimize operational processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve product quality
• Provide technical support to Production teams to resolve issues and improve workflow
• Identify and eliminate production bottlenecks, defects, and quality deviations
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to optimize processes and minimize waste
• Partner with Production Planning to meet schedules and achieve daily/weekly production targets
• Monitor product quality to ensure compliance with industry standards, specifications, and safety requirements

What You'll Bring

• Evidence of exceptional ability, with strong engineering fundamentals and demonstrated problem solving capability
• 3+ years in a chemical manufacturing environment. Experience working with slurries, milling, and solids handling is strongly preferred; exposure to hydrometallurgical systems is a plus
• Ability to effectively work and communicate cross-functionally, including interfacing with project, engineering, quality, and maintenance/reliability functions
• Experience with Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and advanced process controls
• Proficiency with operational data trending tools (e.g., PI Vision, Aspen, Seeq)
• Proven ability to perform under pressure and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment; willingness to work extended hours when needed
• Strong aptitude for rapidly learning and applying new technologies
• Ability to identify issues, analyze root causes, and implement corrective actions

Compensation and Benefits

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical 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