Technical Program Manager Lead – Interior & Safety Systems

ABOUT SLATE

At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.

| WHAT YOU GET TO DO

Responsibilities:

The Technical Program Manager Lead for Interior & Safety Systems serves as both the program management authority for Interior and Safety Systems and the Zone Launch Team Lead for the Interior zone. This dual accountability makes this role uniquely impactful. In the program management capacity, this person leads the implementation of Slate’s Program Management Operating Model with a lean and continuous improvement mindset, ensuring the Engineering and Manufacturing teams deliver a quality product on time per program deliverables and milestones. As the Zone Launch Team Lead, this person is the neutral integrator who chairs the Interior zone, holds cross-functional accountability, runs the daily cadence at the zone whiteboard, and is the single point of contact to the Launch Integration Lead. She/He will work directly with the cross-functional teams to deliver program excellence aligned with Slate’s corporate objectives.

• Lead the development of Program Management playbook and structure with a Lean mindset

• Single point of ownership for Interior and Safety Systems as it relates to program timing, program deliverables, change management, and issues management

• Coordinate Beta, DV, PV build events including part buy-off

• Champion Hybrid Agile/Waterfall best practices where needed

• Engage with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Finance teams to communicate requirements and resolve issues

• Define/refine and ultimately manage business processes for efficient execution of the program objectives with a focus on the following areas

• Provide program updates on a consistent basis to various stakeholders

Zone Launch Team Lead – Interior & Safety Systems:

• Serve as the neutral integrator and chair of the Interior & Safety Systems Zone Launch Team – holding cross-functional accountability across Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supplier Quality, and Production Control

• Lead the daily zone stand-up at the zone whiteboard – surface blockers, confirm priorities, assign owners, and ensure nothing sits unresolved for more than one cadence cycle

• Own zone-level KPI status across three dimensions – Parts Readiness, Build Readiness, and Quality Readiness – and confirm Go/No-Go for each build event

• Escalate cross-cluster issues and unresolved zone issues to the Launch Integration Lead immediately – no waiting, no overnight unresolved issues

• Provide end-of-day consolidated zone status to the Launch Integration Lead to support the Executive Night Letter distributed to program leadership daily

| WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

• BA / BS Degree in engineering/management discipline or equivalent in experience

• 10+ years of experience in program management or technical field, preferably in the automotive industry

• Interior and Safety Systems prototype and production manufacturing experience is a plus

• DRE (Design Release Engineer) experience is preferred

• Previous assembly plant launch experience preferred

• Experience with PLM & ERP systems

• Excellent communication, team building, and relationship building skills

• Demonstrate superior customer communication and service skills

• Possess the ability to perform engineering and design process assessments and generate findings and recommendations reports

• Ability to lead teams and meetings considering tradeoffs and optimized solutions with attention to detail

• Demonstrated ability to operate as a neutral integrator – holding cross-functional teams accountable without direct authority, driving to same-day decisions, and escalating without hesitation when needed

• Comfortable operating in a high-cadence, data-driven environment – able to track multiple simultaneous issues across Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain and drive each to resolution

• A track record of successfully delivering large-scale, complex, cross-functional and capital-intensive projects

• Technical writing and documentation experience

Work Authorization Requirement:

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?

At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.

• Safety First

• Delight Customers

• One Team

• Relentless Improvement

• Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy

• Respectful Collaboration

• Positive Legacy

WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.

Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.

Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at

slate-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.