Tesla is joining the ranks of Silicon Valley Companies in poaching talents from Apple. Just a few weeks after hiring Apple Vice President of Mac Hardware Engineering, the electric car maker has roped in another talent from the Cupertino-based technology giant - Rich Heley.
Heley joined Apple in September 2003 as Supply Base Engineer and has since handled senior positions in the company. He was director of Alloy Engineering at Apple for one year before joining Tesla in November.
Although Heley is not as famous as Field or other Apple senior executives, his role across several different positions was critical to Apple's success in the past ten years. Apple's claim to fame may have been its integration of hardware, software and services but the company's manufacturing and design techniques undeniably allowed Apple to produce high quality devices in mass quantities and this is what Heley's job was about.
Heley was responsible for the manufacturing design of the iPod, iPhone and accessories as well as the development of new alloys. His last position for the company involved developing new materials and manufacturing processes for product innovation.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Heley's new job at Tesla is "building an organization to enable the best automotive design and technology by developing the most advanced manufacturing processes". Heley has also described his new role and responsibilities:
"Sr. Director of Manufacturing Technology at Tesla tasked with taking the most advanced car in the world and making it even better. The scope includes advances in Vehicle, Power Train and Battery technologies by conforming the manufacturing process to the best possible design without compromise. Bringing the fit, finish, and materials used to a level unprecedented in the automotive industry as well as continuing to advance the performance and efficiency through advances in manufacturing."
