Materials Engineer, CALPHAD, Terafab

Tesla Motors, Inc.
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, Texas, Austin
Jul 17, 2026
What to Expect Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI are partnering to launch the most epic chip-building effort ever - combining logic, memory, and advanced packaging under one roof. Terafab will close the gap between today's chip production and the future's demand - a future among the stars. The team is seeking a Materials Engineer specializing in CALPHAD thermodynamic and kinetic modeling of oxide and functional materials systems in support of Terafab. You will build, assess, and apply thermodynamic databases and phase-equilibria models for complex oxide, ceramic, and functional thin-film chemistries, enabling predictive materials design, process-window definition, and phase-stability guidance. Working closely with experimentalists and process engineers, you will translate CALPHAD insights into actionable recommendations for composition selection, thermal processing, and multilayer stack compatibility. What You'll Do Develop, assess, and refine CALPHAD thermodynamic and mobility databases for multi-component oxide and functional materials systems Calculate phase diagrams, phase stability maps, and property diagrams relevant to bulk and thin-film oxide processing conditions Model solid-state reactions, crystallization pathways, oxygen non-stoichiometry, and interfacial phase formation in oxide and functional multilayer stacks Couple thermodynamic predictions with kinetic models (diffusion, precipitation, phase transformation) to define process windows for deposition, anneal, and integration steps Collaborate with experimentalists to design validation experiments and refine database assessments against characterization data (XRD, TEM, DSC/DTA, TGA, ellipsometry, and related methods) Support materials selection and composition optimization for functional oxides, including dielectrics, ferroelectrics, ion conductors, transparent conductors, and barrier/passivation layers Integrate CALPHAD outputs with complementary computational methods (DFT, phase-field, process models) within an ICME workflow Communicate modeling results and materials design recommendations to cross-functional Terafab and Materials Engineering teams through reports and presentations Contribute to internal materials data infrastructure, documentation standards, and reusable CALPHAD workflows What You'll Bring Degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Ceramics, Chemistry, or related field with a strong emphasis on computational thermodynamics / CALPHAD, or equivalent experience Practical experience developing or applying CALPHAD assessments for oxide, ceramic, or complex multi-component systems Proficiency with commercial CALPHAD software (Thermo-Calc, FactSage, Pandat, or similar) and thermodynamic database development/assessment methods Strong foundation in phase equilibria, oxide crystal chemistry, defect chemistry, and thermodynamics of non-stoichiometric compounds Demonstrated ability to connect CALPHAD predictions to experimental phase identification and process outcomes Programming skills in Python, MATLAB, or similar for automation of calculations, data analysis, and workflow development Experience with oxide thin films, functional ceramics, or semiconductor-adjacent oxide systems is preferred Familiarity with DFT-informed CALPHAD parameterization, mobility databases, or DICTRA/TC-PRISMA kinetic simulations is preferred Experience with materials informatics, high-throughput composition screening, or coupling CALPHAD to process/device models is a plus Ability to travel up to 20% 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