Engineering Technician, Failure Analysis (m/w/d) Berlin, Germany

What to Expect

We are looking for an Engineering Technician to support failure analysis of electromechanical hardware in Berlin (Tesla Engineering Germany). You report to the mechanical failure analysis lead and work with the failure analysis engineers. This is not an entry-level lab role. The team finds root cause and contributing factors, so Tesla can reduce field, production, and development issues. Technicians on the team work across vehicle and energy products, including current models and products still in development. The role is hands-on and needs someone who takes initiative. You confirm failures, perform teardowns, prepare samples, and inspect parts under optical microscopes and X-ray, working alongside the failure analysis engineers. Electrical debug is useful. It is not required. The right person is versatile, has a record of doing this kind of work well in a lab or a similar hands-on environment, and has shown they can learn a new tool or method quickly.

What You'll Do

• Support failure analysis of electronics and electromechanical assemblies: confirm and recreate the failure, tear the part down, inspect it, and document it. Use that work to help identify the failure mechanism.
• Prepare mechanical samples (sectioning, grinding, polishing) and inspect them with optical microscopes and 2D X-ray.
• Use hand tools, a logging DMM, grinders and polishers, precision diamond saws, and the rest of the lab equipment.
• Record the steps across sample inspections, replication tests, and teardowns: notes, photos, optical images, and project tracking.
• Disassemble and reassemble electromechanical assemblies while keeping the original function and form.
• Run experiments the engineers design. Flag a result that was not expected, and propose the next step.
• Learn new inspection, preparation, and debug methods as the lab and the products change.
• Electrical debug and soldering are useful when you have them. They are not the core of this role.

What You'll Bring

• Completed German vocational training (Berufsausbildung), or a recognized equivalent, in Mechatronics, Electronics, Industrial Mechanics, Vehicle Mechanics, or a comparable technical trade. A college degree or a trade certification is a plus.
• 3-5 years of hands-on experience in failure analysis, an analytical lab, automotive or electromechanical technician work, or similar. This is not an entry-level lab role.
• Experience with mechanical sample preparation and optical microscopes. X-ray experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to fully disassemble and reassemble mechanical or electromechanical assemblies.
• Versatile across tools and tasks, with a record of doing the job well and of learning a new technique.
• Able to document work clearly with photos, notes, and basic software.
• Good spoken and written English.
• Able to adapt when the technology, the equipment, or the process changes.
• Preferred: electrical debug with a DMM, a basic oscilloscope, and soldering. Helpful, not required. Preferred: mentoring others in inspection, hand tools, or sample preparation.

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.