Sr. Technical Program Manager, Solar Manufacturing

What to Expect

Tesla is seeking a Technical Program Manager / Senior Technical Program Manager to join our Solar Manufacturing Operations team. This is an early-stage team building the operational foundation for a new business division, and this role will be instrumental in shaping processes, tools, and ways of working from the ground up. 

The Technical Program Manager will be responsible for driving cross-functional programs from initiation through execution, ensuring alignment across engineering, supply chain, quality, and operations stakeholders. This includes defining program scope, building and maintaining schedules, tracking milestones and deliverables, identifying and mitigating risks, and driving accountability across teams. The TPM serves as the connective tissue between technical and operational teams, translating complex requirements into actionable plans and ensuring teams move in a coordinated, efficient manner toward shared goals. 

This role also carries a unique strategic mandate: leading the team's AI capability building initiative — evaluating, integrating, and standardizing AI tools and workflows across the organization during this formative stage, ensuring the division is AI-native from Day 1. 

Success in this role requires a strong bias for action, comfort with ambiguity, the ability to operate independently with minimal oversight, technical fluency including programming skills, and a genuine passion for leveraging AI to drive operational efficiency.

What You’ll Do

• Drive cross-functional program execution for production operations workstreams, managing scope, schedule, dependencies, risks, and deliverables through closure 

• Facilitate cross-functional coordination meetings; document and track decisions, action items, and escalations to resolution 

• Coordinate with engineering, supply chain, quality, EHS, and IT teams to support production readiness and operational milestones 

• Develop, document, and roll out production operations processes, SOPs, and best practices from scratch 

• Lead the division's AI adoption initiative: evaluate, select, and integrate AI tools into production operations workflows; develop usage guidelines and a standardized AI onboarding program for current and future team members 

• Leverage AI to enhance program management efficiency, including automated status reports, meeting summaries, risk analysis, and data processing 

• Build and maintain custom project dashboards, trackers, and reporting pipelines using Python, SQL, Tableau, or equivalent tools 

What You’ll Bring

• 3+ years of experience in technical program management for TPM level, or 5+ years for Senior TPM level, experience in a production, manufacturing, or factory operations environment 
• Track record of managing multiple concurrent workstreams with cross-functional dependencies 
• Experience working in early-stage or greenfield environments where processes are being defined, not just followed 
• Demonstrated programming ability (Python, SQL, Tableau, or equivalent) with the ability to independently build dashboards, automate workflows, and create data pipelines; proficient with AI / LLM tools with hands-on experience applying them to improve work efficiency; enthusiasm for driving broader AI adoption 
• Strong proficiency with Jira and Confluence, including the ability to configure and customize them for team needs 
• Executive-level communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to tailor messaging for technical and non-technical audiences 
• High independence and self-direction; able to operate effectively with minimal oversight; comfort with ambiguity and rapid change; strong ownership mentality with acute attention to detail 

Compensation and Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• 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