New

Project Metallurgist

Tesla Motors, Inc.
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, Texas, Hutto
Jul 29, 2025
What to Expect Tesla's Lithium & Recycling team is looking for a highly motivated individual to be a (Senior) Project Metallurgist for new cell recycling and lithium development projects. This is a cross-functional role that requires coordination between many different groups within and outside of Tesla. You, as a (Senior) Project Metallurgist, will interface with organizations across Tesla, Development, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and the Executive team. You will drive the development of new cell recycling processes, and support commercialization and scaling of new technologies, especially for the recycling of critical, battery grade materials. You will support critical metals recovery projects from concept through laboratory and pilot plant testing, technology transfer and basic engineering. What You'll Do Work with Development, Technology, Engineering and other supporting functions to scope and drive process development for battery recycling and critical metals refining projects Establish methods and procedures and coordinate work activities with other Project Managers, Engineers, and Technical Staff Develop scope and define parameters for project design and implementation Carry out all planning, scheduling and coordination required to execute metals recovery projects at lab and pilot plant scale Define and drive tasks to be performed by the cross-functional team As required, work hands-on to execute metallurgical test work and operate pilot plant processes Identify creative ways to overcome obstacles and meet the schedule despite setbacks Drive review and selection of equipment vendors and integrators for delivery of pilot plant scopes Analyze laboratory and pilot plant data to optimize process performance and develop process design criteria for scale-up Prepare technoeconomic analysis and perform trade-off studies to select optimal processes What You'll Bring Evidence of exceptional ability, including a strong understanding of extractive metallurgy engineering fundamentals and demonstrated ability to leverage this understanding to solve challenging technical problems 5+ years in hydrometallurgical process development environment, in a mix of development, engineering and project roles Process development experience in hydrometallurgical unit operations including leaching, precipitation, solvent extraction (SX), ion exchange (IX), and crystallization especially for applications involving lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese Ability to work and communicate cross-functionally, including interfacing with suppliers and third-party firms Proven ability to operate under pressure while managing multiple priorities simultaneously Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, occasionally requiring extended hours Aptitude to learn and incorporate new technologies Ability to identify issues and develop corrective measures to resolve Detail oriented with strong record-keeping and organizational skills Compensation and Benefits Benefits Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire: Aetna PPO and HSA plans > 2 medical 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 Account) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High Deductible Aetna 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 Employee Assistance Program Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary 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