(Senior) Drive Systems Reliability Engineer, Hardware Test Engineering (m/f/d)

What to Expect

Tesla’s Vehicle team is looking for a skilled and motivated Reliability Engineer to help define and deliver the reliability of our drive inverters—critical components at the heart of Tesla’s electric drivetrain. The team’s mission is to validate durability, performance, and reliability of high-voltage power systems under real-world conditions, ensuring they meet highest standards before they reach the road. You’ll join the team at a pivotal moment — helping shape how we define, validate and improve reliability from concept through production and field operation. You’ll define test strategies, stress scenarios, and lead reliability validation initiatives. You’ll work closely with design, testing, manufacturing, and systems engineers to influence next-generation architectures using data-driven insights. We’re looking for a highly motivated engineer with strong technical fundamentals, hands-on experience in vehicle or component-level testing, and a passion for problem-solving in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

What You’ll Do

• Apply solid knowledge of reliability methods and power electronics / high voltage systems to design and execute accelerated reliability test plans—including design validation, burn-in, environmental stress screening (ESS), ongoing reliability testing (ORT)—using physics-of-failure and statistical models to predict long-term performance.
• Translate real-world field usage data and environmental profiles into realistic, high-fidelity test scenarios that stress the system appropriately.
• Lead design FMEAs and reliability risk assessments, identifying failure modes early and driving robust design decisions through actionable test plans and mitigation strategies.
• Investigate and resolve field and lab failures by collaborating with design, manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams—using failure analysis techniques to uncover root causes and implement effective corrective actions.
• Develop and deploy supplier process validation test plans to ensure consistency and reliability in outsourced components and manufacturing processes.
• Apply lessons learned from past projects to create reusable reliability guidelines, best practices, and design rules that improve future product development.
• Use Weibull analysis, reliability growth models, and statistical tools (e.g., JMP, Minitab) to interpret test results, validate reliability targets, and communicate confidence in system performance.
• Own end-to-end delivery of reliability initiatives—ensuring timely execution, cross-team alignment, and traceability of reliability outcomes.
• Partner with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to align on reliability requirements, test strategies, and risk mitigation.
• Maintain and evolve core reliability specifications, targets, allocation frameworks, and test justification documents—ensuring they’re traceable, auditable, and aligned with product goals.
• Stay current with industry and internal standards and apply them appropriately to test and design decisions.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the culture of reliability excellence across the organization.
• Take initiative on cross-functional projects and emerging challenges—proactively identifying risks and proposing solutions.

What You’ll Bring

• Engineering Degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Mechatronics Engineering, Automation technology, Robotics or equivalent.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in high-voltage power electronics reliability testing, failure analysis, and test planning—gained in lab environments, manufacturing, or field service. Academic research or internship experience is applicable.
• Deep technical understanding of high-voltage power electronics, including MOSFETs, IGBTs, power modules, gate drivers, and thermal management systems.
• Experience reading and interpreting PCB schematics, layout, and assembly drawings (PCBA level).
• Self-driven and focused individual with a proven ability to manage parallel tasks effectively, with a desire to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to remain engaged, proactive, and positive in tough circumstances.Additional Preferred Skills:
• Experience with burn-in testing, Environmental Stress Screening (ESS), Ongoing Reliability Testing (ORT).
• Understanding of Highly Accelerated testing methods and governing equations for different types of acceleration models.
• Experience in developing reliability guidelines and inventing novel ways of reliability testing.
• Working knowledge of reliability statistics including Weibull analysis, and experience with statistical software such as JMP, Minitab, etc.
• Practical knowledge of failure analysis techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM, CSAM, X-ray, cross-sectioning and EDX.

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

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