Senior Technical Specialist, Test Vehicle Management

What you’ll do

• Serve as the senior technical authority and primary point of contact at the Columbia/Blythewood Production Center for the Verification and Validation team in Novi.
• Own and continuously improve the integrated whole-vehicle test strategy, including test scope, sequencing, methods, readiness criteria, and decision points across prototype and pre-series builds.
• Independently solve complex, ambiguous test and build issues that span vehicle systems, manufacturing processes, software, hardware, and supplier interfaces.
• Lead cross-functional root-cause analysis and countermeasure development for failures arising during the production process; drive issues to technically sound and sustainable closure.
• Advise Body, Interior, Energy, Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, Quality, and other partners on how simulation, test results, and build findings should influence vehicle design and production decisions.
• Establish and maintain test standards, technical procedures, reporting expectations, escalation paths, and reusable best practices for test-vehicle activities at the site.
• Design, plan, and conduct whole-vehicle testing; evaluate performance against requirements and identify risks that could affect program milestones or production readiness.
• Generate clear, decision-oriented vehicle reports that summarize build parameters, test results, root causes, risks, and recommendations for design, material, software, or process changes.
• Oversee R&D test equipment at the site, including technical requirements, readiness, calibration, availability, and appropriate use.
• Influence concept and systems architecture decisions by bringing production, integration, and validation insights into design reviews and technical trade-off discussions.
• Ensure proposed solutions and alternative designs align with applicable safety standards, U.S. government regulations, vehicle-level requirements, and Scout engineering expectations.
• Lead technical coordination with suppliers, clarify validation requirements, assess supplier deliverables, and resolve issues that affect system integration or test readiness.
• Partner with the pre-series team to improve build execution, identify systemic gaps, and transfer lessons learned into future builds and series-production processes.
• Provide technical guidance and coaching to engineers and cross-functional partners; strengthen problem-solving capability beyond the immediate Test Vehicle Management area.
• Support hands-on prototyping, vehicle bring-up, instrumentation, data collection, software implementation, and test execution as needed.
• Perform other related duties and activities as required.

Location & Travel Expectations:

• This role will be based out of the Scout Motors location in Blythewood, South Carolina
• This role requires 4-5 days per week in the office, with regular in-person meetings and events.
• Applicants should expect that the role will require the ability to convene with Scout colleagues in person and travel to participate in events on behalf of the company from time to time.
• Travel: Domestic and international travel required, approximately X % of the time. Valid driver's license required. Passport required.

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, engineering management, or a related field.
• 8+ years of relevant professional experience, including substantial experience in whole-vehicle testing, validation, integration, or test-vehicle build management within the automotive or electric-vehicle industry.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems creatively and independently, including issues with incomplete information, competing priorities, or cross-system dependencies.
• Experience owning whole-vehicle test planning and adapting test scope or schedules based on program risk, build maturity, customer needs, and emerging technical findings.
• Deep working knowledge of specialized test equipment, instrumentation, data-acquisition systems, diagnostics, and analysis software.
• Strong knowledge of relevant automotive standards, regulations, safety protocols, and validation practices.
• Proven ability to influence technical decisions and advise stakeholders beyond the immediate area of specialization without relying on formal authority.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical work across engineering, manufacturing, quality, validation, and supplier organizations.
• Strong systems thinking and the ability to connect component, subsystem, vehicle, production, and customer impacts.
• Advanced root-cause analysis, structured problem-solving, risk assessment, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex workstreams and deliverables against program milestones with limited direction.
• Strong supplier-management skills, including requirements alignment, validation planning, technical issue resolution, and deliverable follow-through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical findings into clear recommendations for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Advanced project steering and coordination skills, with demonstrated ownership of broad project scope and interdependent deliverables.
• Hands-on capability in prototyping, vehicle integration, testing, troubleshooting, and software or calibration implementation.
• Proven ability to build trusted working relationships across organizational levels and in a global, cross-functional environment.
• Strong ownership, curiosity, resourcefulness, collaboration, and a growth mindset in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Minimum of a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent is required for all roles at Scout Motors, Inc

What you'll gain

The benefits of joining Scout include the chance to build products and a company from the ground up. This is a chance to create something new and lasting – with an iconic brand at its foundation. In addition, Scout provides competitive compensation and benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing. Program specifics are detailed in company policies and employee benefit guides, select highlights:

Pay Transparency

This is a full-time, exempt position eligible to receive a base salary and to participate in an annual performance bonus program. Final salary offered will be determined based on factors including but not limited to the candidate's skills and experience. The annual performance bonus program is preset and not candidate dependent.

Initial Base Salary Range: $130,000.00 - $160,000.00

Internal Leveling Code: IC8

Notice to applicants:

• To be considered for career opportunities at Scout Motors, applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Residing in San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Scout Motors will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
• Residing in Los Angeles: Scout Motors will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
• Residing in New York City: This role is not eligible for remote work in New York City.