Supplier Quality Engineer, Optimus

Role overview

Tesla is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer for the Optimus program in Fremont, CA. This role is centered on safeguarding production from supplier-related quality disruptions, strengthening supplier capability, and supporting rapid product development through robust quality systems and manufacturing discipline.

The position involves close coordination with internal Factory, Supply Chain, Quality Inspection, and Supplier Industrialization teams, as well as direct interaction with suppliers. It includes investigation of quality escapes, containment planning, corrective action follow-up, audit support, statistical process control work, and supplier development activities. The role also calls for practical decision-making, clear communication across technical and non-technical audiences, and limited travel to suppliers and other Tesla sites within North America.

Key responsibilities

• Protect production operations from interruption caused by supplier quality issues and work cross-functionally to identify, contain, and resolve problems.
• Investigate suspected or confirmed supplier quality concerns, define immediate countermeasures, and put in place durable controls to prevent repeat issues and production downtime.
• Create and communicate sustainable countermeasure requirements, including scope of work, standardized work instructions, PPE, tools, equipment, and cycle time, and train quality inspection teams and third parties to carry them out.
• Issue and manage supplier corrective action requests, tracking containment, root-cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions through closure.
• Perform part quality audits and trials at the component, subsystem, or system level to confirm that supplier actions are effective.
• Review supplier root-cause analysis and corrective action plans for adequacy, provide feedback, and coordinate revisions with the Supplier Industrialization Engineer when needed.
• Support part and packaging trials related to new product launches, design changes, or supplier process changes, and assess the quality impact within the factory.
• Lead meetings with stakeholders to address supplier quality or supply chain issues and changes.
• Look for ways to improve processes, reduce part cost, and strengthen quality through lesson sharing and continuous improvement efforts.
• Support containment, SCAR, continuous improvement, and professional development activities at supplier sites, other Gigafactories, and Tesla warehouse or operating locations as required.

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate has a degree in Mechanical, Automotive, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience, along with at least 3 years in quality, production, or manufacturing engineering. Experience working with suppliers of closure systems such as latches, hinges, strikers, sealing systems, and power liftgate or actuation systems is preferred.

Strong working knowledge of GD&T is required, along with a solid understanding of PFMEA, control plans, and problem-solving methods such as 8D, 5 Why, and Ishikawa. Familiarity with SPC, hypothesis testing, and data analysis is expected, while experience with QMS, APQP, PPAP, and Red-X methods is a plus.

The role also requires experience leading manufacturing process and control plan audits, strong leadership and project management skills, and the ability to coordinate internal, supplier, and third-party activities effectively. The candidate should be comfortable handling ambiguity, competing priorities, and a fast-moving environment with minimal direction, and must be able to explain technical issues clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Travel of up to 10% across North America may be needed on short notice.

Compensation and benefits

The expected annual base salary for this position is $84,000 to $180,000, plus cash and stock awards and benefits. Final pay may depend on factors such as location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional compensation elements may also apply based on the offer.

Full-time Tesla employees are eligible for a broad benefits package starting on day 1 of hire, which includes medical coverage with $0 payroll deduction options, fertility and family-building support, dental and vision plans with $0 paycheck contribution options, HSA contributions when enrolled in the high-deductible medical plan, FSA accounts, 401(k) with employer match, employee stock purchase plans, company-paid basic life and AD&D, disability insurance after a 90-day waiting period, EAP support, sick and vacation time, paid holidays, back-up childcare resources, voluntary insurance options, weight loss and tobacco cessation programs, Tesla Babies support, commuter benefits, and employee discounts and perks.