Seat Design Engineer/Materials

What To Expect
As an Engineer in the Seat Engineering Department, you will be responsible for Design Engineering from concept to End of Life as well as problem solving of existing products within the Seating realm.
A Vehicle Seating System can be defined as a product which enables comfortable and safe support for vehicle occupants with aesthetic appeal. In some sense it can be viewed as a moving robotic structural art piece. Typical commodities include soft trim, hard trim, seating structures, mechanisms, actuators, foam, safety restraint systems, electrical harnesses & controllers, and sensors.
In this role, you will partake in a wide range of engineering aspects integrated with multiple branches. This includes Product Design, Materials Selection [metals, polymers, composites, fabrics, etc.], Mechatronics Systems, Software / Firmware, Production Processes, Manufacturing Equipment, Supply Chain, Quality Controls, Financial Implications, Regulatory Compliance, Post Production Service and so on. You will strongly apply your existing skillset while learning a lot.
Team members typically play dual roles as experts and generalists. Each team member uses their particular expertise as their super power to complement the overall team. We employ an ethos of “get the Job done!” You shall report to the Manager of Seating and this position resides in Tesla’s Vehicle Engineering Team.
The Team operates globally and has many locations (Fremont, (HQ), Shanghai, Berlin). In this current regard you shall primarily operate in Fremont (California).

Bachelor of Science in Product Design or Engineering [Mechanical, Electrical, Medical, Biomedical, Computer Science, Materials or similar ]

2 years of experience. Less than 1 year one should have experience with a full design project.

Demonstrated interest in multidisciplinary engineering.

Prior experience with product design and or Engineering.

Demonstrated understanding of the fundamentals of engineering.

Some hands on experience where you have built something.

Hand-sketching [one of the many engineering languages].

Laboratory experience.

3D modeling proficiency [preferably in CATIA v5]

PCB design software, Altium preferred

Power electronics knowledge

Communication protocol familiarity: I2C, SPI, Serial

Hardware level programming: C/C++

Software level programming: Python/MATLAB

Automotive engineering with seating experience is preferred but not mandatory.

Have a good mix of designing a variety of materials (stamped, injection mold, etc.) and designing kinematics/ mechanisms.

Strong working knowledge of Design for Manufacturing, including familiarity with GD&T and dimensional engineering.

Strong familiarity with the development of specifications, DFMEAs, DVP&R’s and other technical documents.

Demonstrated ability to manage difficult projects with tight timing constraints and provide examples of such scenarios throughout your career.

Organized.

Evidence of Exceptional Ability

Preferred languages: English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Swedish, Chinese, Hindi, Creole…

What You’ll Do

• You are both theoretical and empirical.
• Is serious about sustainability.
• Develop Validation plans to ensure full product compliance.
• Bill of Materials (BOM) management
• Sub-system schedule management aligned with vehicle milestones.
• Product optimization with the appropriate analytical and physical assessments.
• Strategic architecture & product planning with development
• Understanding of Manufacturing processes and industrialization scenarios.
• Identify, Understand & Define legitimate problems that need solving.
• Concept generation and evaluation including feasibility confirmation.
• Has a feel for customer values as it relates to Luxury expectations, performance, durability etc.
• Expertise in Surface Materials, Textiles, Polymers, Natural Fibers etc.
• Commercial and Supplier Management.
• Participate and manage collaborative efforts with other departments within the Tesla Vehicle Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering and Procurement groups to ensure system integration and compatibility.
• Understanding the physical make up of materials at an elemental level.
• Product validation including Prototype Making and Testing.
• Detail Design including: datum & fixation strategy, GD&T.
• Manage and negotiate product attributes for Safety, Functionality, Comfort, Craftsmanship, Cost, Mass, Schedule, Sustainability (to name a few).
• Utilize design tools such as DRBFM / DFMEA to enable robust products against their requirements
• Packaging & layout within vehicle architecture.
• Responsible for technical documentation creation for official use and communication.
• Use and Interpret CAE simulation results and integrate into product design.
• 3D CAD generation e.g. in CATIA as well as 2D drawing making.
• Material Science / Engineering / Chemistry background with a passion.

What You’ll Bring

• Have a good mix of designing a variety of materials (stamped, injection mold, etc.) and designing kinematics/ mechanisms.
• Organized.
• Demonstrated interest in multidisciplinary engineering.
• Demonstrated understanding of the fundamentals of engineering.
• Some hands on experience where you have built something.
• Power electronics knowledge
• Hardware level programming: C/C++
• Strong familiarity with the development of specifications, DFMEAs, DVP&R’s and other technical documents.
• 3D modeling proficiency [preferably in CATIA v5]
• Prior experience with product design and or Engineering.
• Software level programming: Python/MATLAB
• Preferred languages: English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Swedish, Chinese, Hindi, Creole…
• 2 years of experience. Less than 1 year one should have experience with a full design project.
• Communication protocol familiarity: I2C, SPI, Serial
• Laboratory experience.
• Evidence of Exceptional Ability
• PCB design software, Altium preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage difficult projects with tight timing constraints and provide examples of such scenarios throughout your career.
• Hand-sketching [one of the many engineering languages].
• Bachelor of Science in Product Design or Engineering [Mechanical, Electrical, Medical, Biomedical, Computer Science, Materials or similar ]
• Automotive engineering with seating experience is preferred but not mandatory.
• Strong working knowledge of Design for Manufacturing, including familiarity with GD&T and dimensional engineering.

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 Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Aetna medical plan with HSA

Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

LGBTQ+ care concierge services

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

Employee Assistance Program

Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary 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

Expected Compensation
$80,000 - $300,000/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.
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