New

Sr. Design Manager, MEP Infrastructure

Tesla Motors, Inc.
108,000 - 210,000 USD
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, California, Palo Alto
May 09, 2026
What to Expect We're looking for an Infrastructure Design Manager with deep expertise in mechanical, electrical, structural, or architectural engineering; someone who doesn't just follow playbooks but questions assumptions and builds solutions from fundamental truths. In this role, you'll own the full design and engineering lifecycle for R&D infrastructure, from concept through construction. You won't inherit predefined solutions; you'll be expected to deconstruct complex problems to their core elements, evaluate trade-offs rigorously, and drive engineering decisions that optimize for real-world constraints; not convention. This role is for you if you naturally begin with curiosity-asking "why?" before jumping to "how?"-and possess the analytical instinct to pinpoint the critical 20% of constraints that shape 80% of a design decision. You thrive in ambiguity, transforming uncertainty into clear, actionable engineering scope with confidence and clarity. You reject simplistic trade-offs and instead seek innovative, integrative solutions that honor competing requirements without compromise. You uphold a rigorous technical standard-not just for yourself, but for your team-and can clearly articulate the rationale behind that standard, ensuring quality, scalability, and long-term impact. We operate in a demanding, fast-paced environment where the ability to distinguish real constraints from inherited assumptions separates great engineers from good ones. What You'll Do Deconstruct complex infrastructure challenges to identify the true constraints; physical, regulatory, operational; before committing to solutions Challenge design assumptions inherited from previous projects; validate that each requirement reflects actual need, not historical convention Drive infrastructure projects from early concept through IFC, making decisive trade-offs across competing priorities (cost, schedule, constructability, operational performance) Take full accountability for design quality-not just milestone completion-ensuring solutions are robust, buildable, and aligned with long-term operational requirements Define fit-for-purpose strategies for design deliverables and permit packages based on project-specific risk profiles and schedule drivers Determine the right level of design resolution at each phase (30%, 60%, 90%, IFP, IFC) by understanding what decisions each milestone must enable Structure and facilitate design reviews that surface real issues-not just confirm compliance with templates Probe designs for failure modes, constructability gaps, and coordination conflicts before they become field problems Extract true requirements from stakeholder inputs; distinguish between hard constraints, preferences, and assumptions. Convert complex, multi-stakeholder needs into clear, actionable engineering scope that the team can execute against Identify critical-path design dependencies and sequence work to de-risk procurement and construction timelines. Recognize when design decisions are blocking downstream activities and drive resolution with appropriate urgency What You'll Bring Degree in Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Structural Engineering, or the equivalent in experience Minimum 10 years of professional experience in infrastructure or facility design and have demonstrated fluency across engineering disciplines, you can challenge specialists with informed questions, not just defer to them Proven ability to decompose complex systems and identify the governing variables that drive design decisions Track record of questioning inherited constraints and finding better solutions when warranted Experience evaluating trade-offs quantitatively, not just qualitatively Comfort with ambiguity and incomplete information-you know when to seek more data and when to decide with what you have Experience delivering IFB, IFP, and IFC packages for complex MEP and infrastructure projects and familiarity with VDC/BIM-driven project delivery for industrial, or R&D facilities Understanding of delivery methods (design-bid-build, IPD, fast-track) and when each is appropriate, with high ownership mentaility. You solve problems, not point them out. Strong documentation and communication skills, you can distill complex technical problems into clear, actionable plans for diverse stakeholders Intellectually curious with a bias toward understanding why things work, not just that they work and are energized by hard problems that don't have obvious answers. 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: 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 Expected Compensation $108,000 - $210,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.