Sr. Materials Engineer, Nonmetallic Materials

About the role

The candidate will work as a member of Tesla’s Quality Operations at GFTX to lead, support, and advise on all materials‑related issues with a focus on non‑metallic materials. The position is based in Austin, Texas within the Materials & Joints Lab.

Responsibilities

• Lead the test and performance evaluations of non‑metallic materials for a wide variety of raw materials, components, and assemblies across all GFTX products, including design and process validations.
• Assess risks within upcoming projects and ensure applicable materials tests are completed within demanding project timelines.
• Carry out test tasks and develop new test and evaluation methods for materials and systems.
• Conduct failure analyses in an extremely fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment.
• Interface with a broad spectrum of internal customers, driving concerns to root causes and effective resolutions.
• Create and manage “concerns” documentation to facilitate corrective actions to a resolution.
• Support the Operations Team on lab tests, including test standardization and training.

Qualifications

• Degree in Materials Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the relevant fields.
• Diverse knowledge and experience with automotive and EV polymeric materials and applications, including plastics, rubber, coatings, and adhesives.
• Extensive experience in chemical and materials characterization methodologies, including sample preparation.
• Familiarity with UTS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, optical and electron microscopes, and X‑ray CT (highly desirable).
• Broad understanding of failure modes in polymeric materials and joint systems.
• Experience working with hazardous chemicals and a commitment to promoting health and safety across teams.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to establish effective working relationships within the department and with all stakeholders.
• Broad experience leading cross‑functional teams to drive product and specification development.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities, organize workload, meet deadlines, and manage time independently.
• Maintain top‑level professional ethics and integrity.

Benefits

• Competitive pay as a full‑time Tesla employee.
• Medical plans with $0 payroll deduction options.
• Family‑building, fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits.
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans with $0 paycheck contribution options.
• Company‑paid Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions when enrolled in a high‑deductible medical plan.
• 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 salaried positions, accrued hours for hourly positions) and paid holidays.
• Back‑up childcare and parenting support resources.
• Voluntary benefits including 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.