Data Engineer, Manufacturing Accounting

Tesla is hiring a Manufacturing Accounting Data Engineer in Austin, TX (onsite) to build and maintain the data pipelines and infrastructure that power manufacturing variance analytics. The role focuses on monitoring manufacturing costs, analyzing drivers of change, and delivering dashboards and reports that support efficiency, profitability, and continuous process improvement.

What you’ll do

• Build and maintain data pipelines, databases, and infrastructure using SQL, Python, and CI/CD to automate analyses and support manufacturing accounting operations.
• Ingest data from primary and secondary sources while ensuring data systems enable operational and exploratory analysis.
• Ensure data and reporting outputs comply with internal policies, accounting standards, and regulations.
• Support audits by providing documentation and manufacturing cost analysis.
• Automate analyses and pipeline workflows so production and finance teams can access insights efficiently.
• Perform in-depth analysis of manufacturing costs, including tracking actual costs by process and product and running variance analysis to identify deviations, cost-saving opportunities, and process improvements.
• Monitor cost trends, investigate drivers of fluctuations, and recommend corrective actions with cross-functional partners.
• Analyze manufacturing data across production lines to extract statistics, identify trends or patterns, and communicate findings through innovative dashboards and reports for upper-level management.
• Drive improvements to production efficiency and financial reporting.
• Collaborate with Controls, Process, Manufacturing Engineers, Finance, Operations, and other stakeholders to develop manufacturing variances, inventory, and scrap data collection activities, improve reporting tools, and strengthen underlying data systems.
• Discover underutilized data sources and create new ways to gather actionable insights for business decisions.
• Conduct inventory analysis to ensure accuracy, identify discrepancies, and optimize control processes.
• Implement cost control measures, evaluate cost-saving initiatives, and propose strategies to enhance manufacturing efficiency and reduce expenses.

What you bring

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Data Engineering, or Computer Science (or equivalent experience).
• 2 to 4 years of experience in data engineering, cost accounting, or a similar role in manufacturing environments, including working with large datasets and Manufacturing Execution Systems.
• Strong skills in SQL for data extraction and manipulation and Python for automation.
• Experience with Tableau (or similar) for visualizations and advanced MS Excel.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, cost accounting principles, financial analysis, cost modeling, and variance analysis.
• Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail, strong problem-solving abilities, and the ability to interpret complex data for actionable decisions.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving environment with strong communication, collaboration, and decision-making skills.
• CPA license, MBA, or relevant certifications preferred (not required).

Technologies

• SQL
• Python
• CI/CD
• Tableau
• MS Excel
• ERP systems
• Manufacturing Execution Systems

Benefits

• Medical plans with $0 payroll deduction.
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits.
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans with options with a $0 paycheck contribution.
• Company Paid 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 and 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 including critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance.
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs.
• Tesal Babies program.
• Commuter benefits.
• Employee discounts and perks program.
• Earned Wage Access: real-time pay access paid daily, subject to eligibility and schedule (applicable for below Sr. Managers levels).

In this role, you will leverage data engineering, cost accounting, and manufacturing systems to deliver robust pipelines and infrastructure. You’ll perform advanced manufacturing variance analytics, monitor and analyze costs, and transform large datasets into KPIs, visualizations, and dashboards that help cross-functional teams make critical business and operational decisions across high-volume manufacturing operations.