Senior Manager, Autonomous Vehicle Assembly Operations

The role

This person will lead and scale operations that transform base electric truck platforms into production-ready Outrider autonomous vehicles. They will own end-to-end vehicle upfit, assembly, integration, inspection, test, and verification.

What you will do

• Own the end-to-end conversion of base electric trucks into fully integrated Outrider autonomous vehicles.
• Develop and execute the assembly roadmap for scaling from low-volume builds to commercial production.
• Lead daily assembly operations and a team of vehicle assembly and integration technicians.
• Design and optimize process flow, line layout, workstations, tooling, and staffing.
• Establish standard work, training, inspection criteria, and build documentation.
• Develop internal-versus-external manufacturing strategies with OEM and contract manufacturing partners.
• Work with commercial, engineering and operations teams on production planning and cost efficiency.
• Oversee Outrider facilities.
• Manage KPIs for safety, quality, delivery, cost, throughput, and labor efficiency.
• Deploy MES and manufacturing data systems for digital work instructions and traceability.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in assembly, production, manufacturing engineering, or advanced manufacturing of vehicles, complex hardware, or electromechanical systems.
• 3+ years leading manufacturing or technician teams.
• Demonstrated success taking an assembly or manufacturing operation from concept or low-volume production through commercial scale.
• Experience in automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, autonomous vehicles, robotics, aerospace, industrial automation, or similarly complex hardware.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical and electrical assembly, vehicle wiring/harnesses, sensors, compute hardware, and integrated electromechanical systems.
• Deep knowledge of assembly process design, line balancing, manufacturing layout, tooling, material flow, capacity planning, and production optimization.
• Experience establishing standard work, process qualifications, inspection processes, manufacturing control plans, and production documentation.
• Experience building or upfitting autonomous, electric, commercial, or other highly complex vehicles.
• Experience with ERP/MRP production processes including work orders, routings, WIP, inventory, material planning, and production control.
• Experience implementing or operating MES and manufacturing quality data systems.
• Experience implementing and sustaining ISO 9001-compliant manufacturing and quality processes.

Nice to have

• Master's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related discipline.
• Experience managing OEMs, contract manufacturers, or outsourced manufacturing and transferring processes from pilot to external production.
• Experience in supply chain management and vendor negotiation.
• Experience in facilities management.
• Experience implementing ISO 9001-compliant processes from the ground up through successful certification.
• Experience with manufacturing test automation, digital work instructions, genealogy/traceability systems, and production test platforms.
• ASQ, CMfgE, CPIM, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar manufacturing, quality, or supply-chain certification.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Parental Leave
• 401(K) Retirement
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Short-Term Disability
• Long–Term Disability
• Life insurance
• Wellness programs
• Mental health benefits

About the company

Outrider is a global leader in physical AI for logistics yard operations. The company deploys zero-emission autonomous systems to enhance safety, productivity, and sustainability for Fortune 500 customers.