Capital Projects Manager, Lithium

Description:
Tesla’s Gulf Coast Lithium Refinery is seeking an experienced Capital Project & Turnaround Manager to lead the planning, scheduling, and execution of small capital projects and planned outages for our novel flowsheet. This role owns the full lifecycle of projects typically valued under $50M while driving safe, efficient, and on-schedule major shutdowns/turnarounds that ensure mechanical integrity, process safety, and asset reliability in the conversion of spodumene concentrate to battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate.

Responsibilities:
Manage the full lifecycle of small capital projects (scope, schedule, budget, and closeout) for process improvements, equipment upgrades, and reliability enhancements on critical assets such as autoclaves, calciners, pressure filters, crystallizers, and solids handling systems
Coordinate and execute major planned outages and turnarounds, including detailed planning, resource allocation, contractor management, pre-outage preparation, execution oversight, and post-outage startup/commissioning while minimizing downtime and ensuring compliance with PSM requirements
Develop and maintain integrated outage schedules using first-principles critical-path methodology, integrating inputs from Maintenance, Reliability, Process Controls, and Process Safety teams to align with mechanical integrity programs, predictive maintenance windows, and production targets
Own Management of Change (MOC) and Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) processes for all small capital projects and outage-related modifications; perform technical reviews of P&IDs, equipment datasheets, and installation plans to verify inherent safety and reliability principles
Track project and outage KPIs (cost variance, schedule adherence, safety performance, and post-startup performance metrics such as MTBF and availability) and drive continuous improvement through lessons-learned documentation and root-cause analysis
Collaborate cross-functionally with Production, Process Safety, Reliability Engineering, and Procurement to ensure all work adheres to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119, API/ASME standards, and flowsheet-specific requirements
Provide technical leadership during project design reviews, vendor package evaluations, and field execution; apply thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and materials science principles to optimize designs for long-term reliability and low OpEx

Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical, Chemical, or Civil Engineering (or equivalent); PMP certification or equivalent project management credentials strongly preferred
5+ years of progressive experience managing small capital projects and coordinating major outages/turnarounds in chemical processing, hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, or similar heavy industrial facilities
Demonstrated success delivering projects and outages on time, on budget, and with zero safety incidents in a PSM-covered environment
Deep working knowledge of project controls tools (MS Project, Primavera, or equivalent), CMMS systems, and outage planning software; first-principles understanding of reliability-centered maintenance and mechanical integrity standards (API 510/570/580, ASME)
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage contractors, and influence without direct authority in a fast-paced, commissioning-to-steady-state refinery environment
Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills with a focus on first-principles engineering and continuous improvement

Compensation & 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