Sr Operations Manager, Powertrain

What To Expect
We are looking for a highly motivated individual to lead, support, and manage a team of Engineers to ramp the powertrain manufacturing lines in Gigafactory Reno. This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of the rapidly growing EV industry. The successful candidate has a demonstrated history of strong cross functional leadership, first principles technical problem solving, exceptional communication, and a metrics driven approach to efficient manufacturing. Candidate should be well versed in all aspects of advanced manufacturing—commissioning first of its kind automated equipment, facilities, layouts, automation vendors, GSM, controls integration, safety protocols, data systems, new product introduction, and quality assurance. The candidate will lean on first-hand experience to drive effective solutions to DFMEA, PFMEA, and Safety Risks.
What You’ll Do

• Lead power-on and commissioning activities of new production lines across equipment, controls, process and quality engineering teams and ramp up to build plan.
• Prepare and present funding approval requests for new projects and upgrades to executive leadership.
• Maintain detailed component process level schedule Manufacturing Line Development.
• Establish strategic roadmap for efficient install, troubleshooting of new equipment and guide the engineering team on solving problems and making improvements/upgrades to achieve target rate, yield and quality standards.
• Work in lock step with the Manufacturing, Product Design, and Quality Engineering team to fully understand the product, equipment, process, and quality control plans.
• Establish working relationships with current and new automation vendors.
• Lead the development of hand off package for equipment - documentation, schematics, spare parts etc for the maintenance and sustaining teams.
• Coach the team and instill process standardization, process audits, standardized training and drive continuous improvement relentlessly.
• Maintain detailed component level process documentation and findings.
• Work with HR and other teams to improve the morale of the team and create an environment in which team members want to come to work and perform at the highest level.
• Proactive planning for labor needs ahead of aggressive production ramp targets, communicating job expectations, performing employee performance reviews, and managing the team in alignment of company policies and procedures.
• Define process, equipment, and layout for prototype workstations.
• Ability to mentor and develop a strong team through selective recruitment, thorough and consistent on-boarding process, training, and coaching
• Develop specifications and validation criteria for custom prototype equipment.
• Tactical planning to achieve the production build plan with highest safety, quality and yield performance.
• Foster innovation for new processes and procedures that carry forward to future factories and products.
• Plan, coordinate and review both greenfield and brownfield facility systems install including: power, air and network distribution, material and personnel flow, equipment layouts/matrices and plant logistics.
• Maintain a culture of adherence to standardized work and compliance to documented processes and procedures to ensure safe practices and building products to quality spec are sustained.
• Establish roadmap for continuous improvement and cost down projects for existing production lines and develop high level KPI’s and targets.

What You’ll Bring

• Familiarity with material joining techniques including fastening, welding, soldering, adhesive bonding.
• Experience with process improvement methodologies, improve efficiency, increase yield and availability, design of experiments
• A strong sense of urgency and drive to succeed
• Ability to foster a close working relationship with team members, management and cross functional groups, highly collaborative and be able to have a positive impact on the overall team.
• Familiar with DFMEA and PFMEA execution.
• Experience with automation, PLC programming and HMI design. (Allen Bradley, Beckhoff and Ignition Automation experience preferred)
• Ability to work well under pressure, manage competing demands, juggle priorities and meet tight deadlines with diligent follow through.
• 7-10 years of leadership and manufacturing experience preferably in automotive industry or a highly technical manufacturing environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent experience
• The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, self-driven, critical thinker and able to pro-actively communicate with all employees and works well in a fast-paced multi-cultural environment.
• Must have direct experience taking prototype products to large volume manufacturing
• Hands-on experience implementing lean methodologies and world class manufacturing practices.
• Proficiency in mechanical assembly (tolerance analysis, adhesive bonding, mechanical pressing, fastening)
• Creative capacity for developing new ways to do things better, cheaper, and faster in alignment with the aggressive Tesla approach to revolutionary product development
• High-level leadership and decision-making skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong interpersonal skills.
• Enthusiastic, innovative, and take-charge attitude. This candidate can work independently and set the team’s priorities based on competing and urgent priorities.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills
• Experience with industrial electrical design (facility power distribution 480 VAC through control logic in low voltage control panels).
• Must have introduced new equipment and processes in a production environment under tight deadlines. Product built must have at least structural and electrical requirements.
• Ability to use structured problem-solving methods and techniques to successfully resolve production problems such as 8Ds, fishbone diagrams, 5 WHY analysis etc.

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

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