Director, Product Cost Excellence and Value Engineering

The role

This person will lead product cost excellence and value engineering initiatives for all-electric trucks and rugged SUVs. They will establish a cross-functional program to improve product cost competitiveness while protecting customer value and brand integrity.

What you will do

• Lead Product Cost Excellence and Value Engineering initiatives within product development
• Drive execution of product cost excellence strategy
• Drive adoption and improvement of governance, operating cadence, KPI tracking, and roadmaps
• Lead cross-functional cost optimization workshops with internal teams and suppliers
• Apply value engineering, design-to-value, competitive benchmarking, and other cost methods
• Develop business cases for cost optimization initiatives
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to identify productivity and cost improvements
• Leverage data-driven cost analytics and digital workflows
• Lead and develop a team of product cost optimization and value engineering specialists

Required qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in automotive engineering, procurement, product cost management, cost engineering, value engineering, manufacturing, or a related field
• Proven success leading cost optimization and value engineering initiatives in complex product development environments
• Strong understanding of vehicle systems, product development processes, supplier cost structures, industrialization, and lifecycle cost drivers
• Experience using value analysis/value engineering, design-to-value, should-cost modeling, competitive benchmarking, teardown analysis, supplier cost breakdowns, and total cost of ownership approaches
• Ability to translate technical and commercial opportunities into clear business cases, implementation plans, stakeholder decisions, and measurable financial outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional collaboration across engineering, procurement, finance, manufacturing, quality, logistics, product, and supplier partners
• Strong financial acumen, analytical capability, and comfort working with cost databases, KPI dashboards, business cases, and executive-level reporting
• Entrepreneurial mindset, high ownership, strong communication skills, and the ability to drive structure and alignment in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

Nice to have

• Experience with digital tools, advanced analytics, AI-enabled workflows, or data-driven decision-making in product development or cost optimization

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision and income protection plans
• 401(k) program with employer match and immediate vesting
• 20 days planned PTO, as accrued
• 40 hours of unplanned PTO
• 14 company or floating holidays, annually
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for biological and adoptive parents of all genders
• Paid leave for bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave
• Corporate Vehicle Program with eligibility for 1 assigned vehicle
• A mobility stipend

Before you apply

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older
• This role is not eligible for remote work in New York City

About the company

Scout Motors is building a modern, purpose-driven automotive company focused on electrified mobility and iconic American heritage.