Test Engineer, Materials Engineering

Tesla•Fremont, CA

6d•$80,000 - $174,000•Onsite

About The Position

You will be an integral part of the Materials Engineering organization, pursuing our mission to deliver new materials and manufacturing processes that revolutionize Tesla’s products and accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. As a Materials Test Engineer, you will lead materials-level testing, prototyping, characterization, test specification development, and failure analysis. The position will be based in Fremont (California, USA) at one of our three global Materials Engineering Labs. Perform corrosion testing for a wide variety of materials, components, and vehicles across all Tesla products. Support off-site corrosion testing, including coordination with 3rd party test providers and internal test teams Design and execute experiments to characterize material properties, while maintaining robust data-driven documentation to enable fast iteration Perform and coordinate a wide range of materials testing and prototyping, examples can include: Environmental Aging (e.g., salt fog, UV exposure, temperature/humidity cycling, electrochemical corrosion), Material Characterization (e.g., microscopy, SEM/EDS, DSC, TGA, FTIR, profilometry, rheometry), Lab-Scale Materials and Processes prototyping, (e.g., melting, molding, heat treatment) Develop and author test specifications, aligning with both Tesla and international standards. When necessary, create and validate new test methods to improve test-to-field correlation Perform failure analyses and root cause investigations, translating insights into design or process changes Work with test technicians to ensure efficient setup, execution, and interpretation of results Communicate findings clearly through detailed reports and presentations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders Support lab operations and continuous improvement by establishing protocols, maintaining equipment readiness, and fostering a culture of safety and innovation

Requirements

Degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, or a equivalent experience
2+ years of hands-on experience in materials testing, characterization, or experimental development in a lab environment
Broad knowledge of materials science principles and automotive-relevant materials: metals, polymers, composites, coatings, textiles, etc.
Proven experience with materials testing equipment, sample prep, and analysis techniques across mechanical, thermal, environmental, electrical and optical domains
Strong problem-solving skills, with a hands-on mindset and a passion for learning and innovation
Excellent communication and project coordination skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and drive outcomes independently
Organized, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering high-quality data and insights under tight timelines

Responsibilities

Lead materials-level testing, prototyping, characterization, test specification development, and failure analysis
Perform corrosion testing for a wide variety of materials, components, and vehicles across all Tesla products
Support off-site corrosion testing, including coordination with 3rd party test providers and internal test teams
Design and execute experiments to characterize material properties, while maintaining robust data-driven documentation to enable fast iteration
Perform and coordinate a wide range of materials testing and prototyping, examples can include: Environmental Aging (e.g., salt fog, UV exposure, temperature/humidity cycling, electrochemical corrosion), Material Characterization (e.g., microscopy, SEM/EDS, DSC, TGA, FTIR, profilometry, rheometry), Lab-Scale Materials and Processes prototyping, (e.g., melting, molding, heat treatment)
Develop and author test specifications, aligning with both Tesla and international standards. When necessary, create and validate new test methods to improve test-to-field correlation
Perform failure analyses and root cause investigations, translating insights into design or process changes
Work with test technicians to ensure efficient setup, execution, and interpretation of results
Communicate findings clearly through detailed reports and presentations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Support lab operations and continuous improvement by establishing protocols, maintaining equipment readiness, and fostering a culture of safety and innovation

Benefits

Medical plans > 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 Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
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 salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly 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