Senior/Lead Manufacturing Equipment Design Engineer, Automated Test Equipment

Senior/Lead Manufacturing Equipment Design Engineer, Automated Test Equipment

Tesla

Berlin, Germany

What to Expect

We’re looking for a senior mechanical engineer to design, build, and deploy manufacturing test stations for Tesla products. You’ll lead a team of two and own equipment from concept through production release - including hands-on build, debug, and validation (shared with other functions).

This role sits in Manufacturing Test Engineering at Berlin Tesla Engineering Center, the team that builds robust, data-centric production test equipment used on Tesla lines worldwide. You’ll work across mechanical, electrical, software, and controls to deliver reliable capital equipment - part of the “machine that builds the machine.”

What You’ll Do

• Design & technical leadership:
  • Own architecture and detailed design of automation and test equipment in CAD; set technical standards for the team;
  • Drive technical strategy for test equipment platforms across product lines;
  • Lead conceptual design of new test equipment, balancing product specs, process needs, layout, cost, and lead time;
  • Apply solid mechanics, thermal/fluid analysis, GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and material selection; grow the team’s capability in structural and thermal FEA;
  • Design for manufacture and assembly (DFM/DFA) for complex, high-volume testers;
  • Create pneumatic and hydraulic schematics (e.g. AutoCAD Electrical).
• Hands-on delivery:
  • Lead build, debug, validation, and release of equipment into production;
  • Run on-site and off-site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT) and make go/no-go decisions;
  • Support continuous improvement and sustaining engineering on deployed equipment;
  • Scale and adapt designs for global Tesla factories.
• Team & cross-functional leadership:
  • Mentor and develop two mechanical engineers; provide design reviews and technical guidance;
  • Lead design reviews with design, manufacturing, sustaining, and firmware stakeholders;
  • Manage vendor relationships and critical deliverables;
  • Represent the team in technical discussions with senior leadership.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience in equipment/machine design, manufacturing, or production test;
• Proven delivery of complex automation or test equipment from concept to production;
• Expert proficiency in SolidWorks;
• Solid grasp of electromechanical/mechatronic systems, measurement methods, and industrial diagnostics (hardware and software);
• Advanced pneumatics and hydraulics design experience;
• Hands-on knowledge of fabrication methods: machining, welding, sheet metal, laser cutting, etching, injection molding, 3D printing, hydroforming;
• Experience with DFM/DFA in high-volume manufacturing;
• Experience mentoring junior engineers;
• Clear communication and ability to influence senior stakeholders;
• Comfort leading cross-functional work in fast-paced, ambiguous environments;
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering (or equivalent experience);
• A portfolio that shows technical leadership and measurable impact.

Preferred

• Equipment deployment across multiple global manufacturing sites;
• High-volume automotive or consumer electronics manufacturing background;
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0, data-driven manufacturing, and IoT-enabled test equipment;
• Patents or publications in automation or test equipment.