Sr. Systems & Continuous Improvement Lead

About the role

This senior role champions and leads the development of a unified system integrating quality, production, and cultural processes across the Energy division. The goal is to drive business growth, eliminate waste from silos, and capture company-wide knowledge for 5,000+ employees.

Responsibilities

• Create robust, repeatable, decentralized systems that exceed ISO 9001 standards and integrate quality, production, and cultural elements.
• Develop and execute adoption strategies and programs, including change management, incentives, and training initiatives to drive cross-site usage, ownership, and long-term program sustainability.
• Establish inspection and audit strategies with feedback loops to monitor compliance, effectiveness, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Leverage tools like AI and data analytics for predictive failure tracking and efficiency optimizations.
• Lead and mentor a team of Continuous Improvement Specialists across key sites, developing their talent through coaching, prioritizing projects via Pareto analysis tied to OKRs, leading Kaizen events and gemba walks, and fostering knowledge sharing to standardize best practices without silos.
• Influence senior leadership through data-driven insights, compelling presentations, and proactive problem-solving to secure buy-in.
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities across functions, applying Lean principles and first principles thinking to eliminate duplicated efforts, with emphasis on high-impact areas like battery assembly, supply chain integration, and root-cause optimizations (e.g. PFMEA risk mitigations).
• Develop and champion talent development programs, such as CI workshops, certification pathways, and recognition initiatives, to build a pipeline of high-performing leaders and embed Tesla's leadership tenets across the organization.

Requirements

• Degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Systems Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years in systems/operations engineering, with senior-level experience at a strong systems company (e.g. Toyota, GE, Caterpillar).
• Proven expertise in continuous improvement/Lean methodologies (e.g. Toyota Production System, Six Sigma) in manufacturing or energy sectors, including Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification and hands-on experience in strategic project management, cross-site facilitation, and developing scalable programs.
• Track record of influencing senior stakeholders and driving change without formal authority ("cult of personality" style), with a proven ability to champion initiatives as a visionary leader.
• Strong project management skills, with experience prioritizing multiple initiatives and providing stakeholder updates, including training teams on CI tools (e.g. DMAIC, 5S, Process Quality Control) and tracking metrics like OEE, defect rates, and first-pass yield to develop high-impact systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication to lead without authority and communicate system health/integrity.
• Demonstrated initiative, resilience, impeccable judgment, and comfort making decisions with incomplete information.
• Proficiency in quality tools/methodologies (e.g. Lean, SPC) and familiarity with AI/data tools for scalable systems is a plus, with experience in global data integration for failure analysis, remanufacturing strategy, and talent development programs.

Qualifications

• Experience in global data integration for failure analysis, remanufacturing strategy, and talent development programs.

Skills

• Systems/Operations Engineering
• Continuous Improvement/Lean Methodologies
• Project Management
• Communication Skills
• Leadership

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Medical plans
• Fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits
• Dental and vision plans
• HSA Contribution
• Healthcare and Dependent Care FSA
• 401(k) with employer match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plans
• Other financial benefits
• Basic life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time
• Paid holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks