Lead Thermal Engineer, Energy Products
Tesla Palo Alto, CA Full-time 3/24/2026 $91,600 - $234,000 a year
Undergraduate Entry-Level
Approval 99.3%•Total filings 1,102•New hires 320•
💎 Strong Sponsor
•FY 2025Job Description
Tesla Energy is seeking a Thermal Engineering Lead to oversee the thermal design team responsible for modeling and designing thermal systems for their products. The role involves collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to innovate thermal system designs from the ground up, applying first principles in engineering.
Requirements
- Excellent first principles understanding of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics with relevant experience
- MATLAB and/or Python experience for building physics-based 1D models
- Strong fundamentals in FEA/CFD with demonstrated experience
- Experience modeling, testing and designing thermal components, such as single and multi-phase heat exchangers, compressors, fans, pumps, etc.
- CAD modeling experience preferred, CATIA V5/6 a plus
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes and practical design limitations
- A detail-oriented personality with solid documentation and reporting skills
- Excellent communication skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment
- Demonstrable motivation and ability to solve novel, difficult thermal design problems
Responsibilities
- Lead in-depth modeling of fan/radiator systems, pumped coolant systems, and compression cycles to drive design concepts and detailed design decisions for next generation Tesla Energy thermal systems
- Balance physics-based 1D analytical models with higher fidelity CFD/FEA and empirical approaches to efficiently drive to the fundamentals of thermal systems and thermodynamic cycles and optimize component performance
- Collaborate with design engineers to iterate on design strategies and optimize performance/system metrics at the detailed component level and subsystem level
- Support programs through the entire life cycle including spec development, modeling, prototype builds, test, and production
- Develop and support execution of component/subsystem DFMEA and design validation plans/methods to validate product adherence to requirements, in collaboration with parallel validation and systems engineering teams
- Support creation of component/subsystem specifications and technical design documents
- Establish and maintain team technology, working methods, and process roadmaps, spearheading the continued success of Tesla Energy thermal engineering
Benefits
- Employees at Tesla are often offered day-one coverage with multiple medical options (some at $0 paycheck cost), dental/vision, company HSA contributions, a 401(k) match, and equity programs. Most roles also include paid time off and holidays, family-building support, employee assistance, commuter and childcare benefits, and access to discounts and wellness programs.
Is this job posting expired or no longer available?