Tesla appears to be moving one step closer to launching its long-awaited next-generation Roadster. The company has posted a new Manufacturing Engineer job opening in Fremont, California, specifically tied to developing and launching battery manufacturing equipment for the upcoming electric supercar.
According to the description, the successful candidate will “ideate concepts for equipment and manufacturing systems,” “validate and optimize processes from early prototype builds through full-volume production,” and “transition products from low-volume prototypes to large-scale production.” That scope aligns with a program approaching the manufacturing validation phase — a strong indicator that Tesla is moving closer to physical production readiness.
The engineer will help bring large-scale manufacturing systems from early concept through full production launch, ensuring a smooth handoff to operations teams. The company notes the position involves domestic and international travel to support equipment testing and setup across various Tesla sites, indicating cross-team collaboration typical of an early production ramp. (h/t: @SawyerMerritt)
The posting marks one of the clearest signals yet that the Roadster is transitioning from concept to production preparation. Tesla describes the role as an opportunity to “work directly on the central challenges for the all-new Roadster product architecture while still in its early development stages.”
The Roadster was first unveiled in 2017 as Tesla’s halo vehicle, promising record-setting performance: a 0-100 km/h time under 2 seconds, a top speed of over 400 km/h, and a range exceeding 1,000 km on a single charge. Elon Musk has repeatedly referred to the car as “the dessert” — something that would come after Tesla completed its main course of scaling mass-market vehicles like the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck.
Tesla has teased the Roadster several times this year, with Musk leading things off by saying a demonstration prototype would debut before the end of 2025. That timeline has been reiterated several times since then, most recently earlier this month by Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen.
