Job Description

About the Role

Tesla's AI Hardware Purchasing team is seeking a driven and technically strong Mechanical Supply Chain Manager (SCM) based in Korea to lead new mechanical supplier development and new cooling system development for Tesla's AI hardware platforms. This role is deeply hands-on — sitting at the intersection of mechanical engineering, thermal management, and supply chain operations — and requires someone who can engage at the factory floor level while driving strategic supplier partnerships.

• You will support mechanical and thermal supply chain execution across: Autopilot & Full Self-Driving (FSD) compute systems
• Infotainment & in-vehicle compute platforms
• AI compute infrastructure
• Optimus Humanoid Robot systems

Responsibilities

New Supplier Development

• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new mechanical and thermal suppliers in Korea and the broader Asia-Pacific region to support Tesla's AI hardware and robotics programs
• Conduct manufacturing readiness reviews (MRR) and process capability studies at new supplier facilities to ensure alignment with Tesla's quality, cost, and delivery requirements
• Develop and maintain supplier qualification roadmaps for mechanical and thermal components, ensuring a robust and diversified supply base
• Build strategic supplier relationships with new partners in Korea's precision manufacturing, metal fabrication, and thermal management ecosystem
• Negotiate initial supply agreements, tooling terms, NRE costs, and long-term pricing structures with newly qualified suppliers
• Collaborate with Hardware Engineering, Thermal Engineering, and Quality teams to define supplier technical requirements and ensure new suppliers meet design specifications from day one
• Drive dual/multi-source strategies for critical mechanical and thermal components to reduce supply concentration risk across AI hardware platforms
• Own supplier scorecards and KPI tracking for newly onboarded suppliers, driving continuous improvement in quality, delivery, and responsiveness

New Cooling System Development

• Serve as the supply chain lead for new cooling system development programs, partnering closely with Thermal and Mechanical Engineering teams from concept through mass production
• Lead supplier selection and development for new cooling system components and assemblies, including:
• - Liquid cooling systems (cold plates, manifolds, coolant loops)
• - Heat exchangers and radiators
• - Thermal interface materials (TIMs)
• - Fans, blowers, and airflow management assemblies
• - Vapor chambers and heat pipes
• - Other cutting edge development techniques
• Drive DFM (Design for Manufacturability) and DFS (Design for Supply) reviews with cooling system suppliers, ensuring designs are optimized for manufacturability, cost, and supply chain scalability
• Manage prototype and engineering sample procurement for new cooling system development, coordinating supplier timelines with hardware engineering milestones
• Own tooling and NRE project management for new cooling system components, tracking investment, timelines, and approval milestones
• Support thermal validation and qualification testing by coordinating sample builds, first articles, and engineering builds with suppliers
• Develop cost models and should-cost analyses for new cooling system assemblies, driving competitive pricing and cost-down opportunities from early development stages
• Lead supply chain risk assessments for new cooling technologies, identifying single-source risks, long lead-time items, and technology readiness gaps
• Coordinate with EMS/CM and ODM partners to ensure new cooling system designs are integrated into system-level manufacturing processes
• Production Planning & CTB Support
• Support material Commit to Build (CTB) readiness for mechanical and cooling system components across NPI, pilot, and early production build events
• Develop and manage production build plans for mechanical and thermal supply chain, aligned with program milestones and manufacturing capacity
• Coordinate with suppliers and CM partners on production scheduling, tooling readiness, and material pull signals for new mechanical and cooling programs
• Lead risk mitigation planning for new supplier ramps, including buffer stock strategies, alternate sourcing, and expedite management for critical path mechanical components
• Support ramp readiness reviews and production launch gates, ensuring new suppliers and cooling system supply chains are fully prepared for volume transitions

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain Management or a related field; advanced degree a plus
• 5+ years of experience in supplier development, or mechanical supply chain roles within the electronics, automotive, data center hardware, or precision manufacturing industry
• Strong technical background in mechanical manufacturing processes, including sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, die casting, injection molding, and precision assembly
• Hands-on experience with thermal management systems and cooling technologies, including liquid cooling, heat exchangers, TIMs, fans/blowers, vapor chambers, or immersion cooling
• Proven track record in new supplier qualification and development, including factory audits, PPAP/FAI, process capability studies, and supplier bring-up
• Experience managing NPI supply chains for mechanical or thermal components in a fast-paced hardware development environment
• Familiarity with DFM/DFS principles and ability to engage meaningfully with mechanical and thermal engineers on design decisions
• Strong negotiation skills with experience structuring tooling, NRE, and long-term supply agreements
• Hands-on experience with production planning tools (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent MRP/ERP systems)
• Excellent analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, SQL, or data visualization tools
• Business-level Korean and English proficiency required; ability to communicate effectively with local suppliers and global Tesla teams
• Willingness to travel domestically within Korea and internationally to supplier and manufacturing sites (~30–40%)