New

Technical Project Economist, Battery Minerals & Metals

Tesla Motors, Inc.
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, Texas, Hutto
Aug 04, 2026
What to Expect Critical metals, battery materials, and recycling are essential to all aspects of our future. As a Technical Project Economist, you will be an essential member of Tesla's metals and materials group, you will help drive operational decision making through detailed cost-of-good-sold (COGs) and more sophisticated economic analyses.You will help shape in-house technologies by providing economic guidance to support technology selection and trade-off analyses.You will collaborate closely with Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, and business Leadership to inform material sourcing strategies, budgeting, forecasting, and future projects.The role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on Tesla's mission by ensuring the economic efficiency of our cutting-edge materials programs. What You'll Do Develop and maintain details COGS models for battery recycling and other battery materials projects.This will provide insights to guide technology development, materials sourcing strategies and future plant design Support various team projects through budget planning and tracking Perform comprehensive technoeconomic analyses of various business verticals or industries to help select best-in-class technologies.You will collaborate closely with materials engineers and Programs team member Analyze operational data to identify opportunities for cost optimization and process improvements, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives Collaborate with the Finance team to integrate new technologies and processes into economic models that enable broader budgeting, financial forecasting and decision making Partner with Programs, Operations and Business Leadership to provide actionable financial analysis that supports strategic decision-making Monitor market trends and raw material, and commodity costs to inform sourcing strategies and new project initiatives Track various initiatives to provide both economic and project-planning support Present economic analyses and recommendations to stakeholders at various levels, translating complex data into clear, actionable insights Support long-term planning by modeling scenarios for new technologies under consideration What You'll Bring Degree in Engineering, Economics, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience 2+ years of experience in chemical, petrochemical, or oil and gas industries, ideally as an Economist, Business Analyst, or Optimization Engineer within a refinery or manufacturing environment Strong expertise in cost modeling, financial analysis, and budgeting, with the ability to build and maintain complex economic models Proficiency in data analysis tools and software (e.g., Excel, Tableau, or similar); experience with ERP systems is a plus Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial concepts to diverse audiences, including operational teams and senior leadership A proactive, problem-solving mindset with a passion for driving efficiency and innovation in a fast-paced environment Alignment with Tesla's mission to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy 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