Sr. Chassis Program Launch Manager

What Makes Motiv Special?

Through a radically different approach to building electric trucks that combines our own patented IP with strategic partnerships, we have developed a line of all-electric medium-duty trucks and buses used in a range of applications.  Our next-generation electric truck, the Argo, is coming out in 2024.

The ideal candidate will want to be part of the team leading the commercial electric truck industry.  Our trucks and buses have logged millions of customer-driven miles and tens of millions of pounds delivered in the US and Canada while reducing millions of pounds of CO2 emissions. You will be joining us at a critical inflection point in our growth, when, in addition to launching our Argo truck, we are significantly expanding our products, capacity and market volume.

Motiv’s core values are deep passion, curiosity, collaboration, customer focus and “owning it.” If those are values you share, we would love to talk with you about joining our team and taking your career to the next level in one of the hottest technology sectors. To succeed in this job, you must be able to perform the duties listed below – and others as required.

Job Summary:

The Senior Chassis Program Launch Manager, based in California, will lead all aspects of planning and executing Chassis-related Programs. You will work closely with Sales, Systems & Vehicle Engineering, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Customer Support and Finance.

You will be expected to lead all aspects of planning and executing the MY2026 Motiv Chassis Program, while overcoming uncertainties at all levels through detailed, hands-on leadership that motivates others through your example of proven, practical, expertise. This is a developmental role, ideal for a candidate with deep product engineering and launch experience, who wants to broaden their technical experience to business end-to-end expertise, for increased future responsibility. Though without formal supervisory responsibilities, your leadership will influence the larger cross-functional team with strong, persistent drive to deliver programs to targets of safety, quality, delivery and cost. You will be expected to travel as required to maintain a detailed understanding of real risks, mitigation, progress and effectively communicate and drive actions for program success. This is a very hands-on position reporting to the Director of Systems & Vehicle Engineering and based out of California.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop the overall Program Plan with clear milestones, deliverables, and check points with defined go/no-go success criteria. Work closely with all affected department leaders and employees as required to ensure aligned, cross-functional delivery of outcomes to challenging timing and cost targets. Ensure product requirements and validation plans adequately cover regulatory and compliance needs.
• Lead the Translation from customer requirements to product requirements to engineering specifications and seek out input from across Motiv to ensure requirements are robust to customer and stakeholder needs. Ensure core engineering has clearly defined engineering specifications.
• Ensure program plan enables effective use of Design for Engineering, Assembly, Manufacture, Supply Chain, Serviceability). Monitor New Program design and release process delivers BOM readiness to support prototype and production level parts meet program timing. Ensure appropriate releases are made in PLEX to meet program timing.
• Ensure product & process robustness through DFM/DFA, FMEA, Control Plans, APQP, serviceability, reliability actions and that tools are in place to deliver a product that meets and or exceeds customer expectations.
• Work with suppliers to lead development and release of components related to an active chassis system while meeting cost, weight, timing, and performance targets. Work with Advanced Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Manufacturing Teams to ensure supplier and launch readiness through successful prototype builds, lessons learned, control plans and work instructions.
• Provide hands-on, deep leadership and support of all prototype builds. Establish objectives and sign-off criteria for each of the prototype build stages. Ensure lessons learned from prototype and early builds are translated across departments and implemented as necessary.
• Lead vehicle validation and ensure all performance requirements are met before product launch.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Prior experience with design and release activity at major OEM or full-service supplier.
• Lead design and packaging reviews with cross functional teams.
• Solid understanding of chassis products a