Head of Enterprise Systems Engineering

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.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Slate runs lean by design.  Every dollar we spend has to earn its place on the truck, and the same philosophy applies to our enterprise systems.  We are looking for a Head of Enterprise Systems Engineering who understands that good software architecture is a manufacturing advantage, not an IT overhead.

This is a player-coach role.  You will build and lead a team of engineers operating the digital backbone that connects functional teams across the enterprise: operations, supply chain, commercial, and digital.  You've spent your career at the intersection of cloud infrastructure, full-stack development, and enterprise integration, and you know how to build platforms that scale without bureaucracy.

You will report to the Head of Enterprise Systems and partner closely with Product, Operations, and Supply Chain leadership to ensure our systems evolve with the business.

WHAT YOU GET TO DO

• Own the Engineering Org: Build and lead a high-performance team of engineers developing custom applications and integration fabric that digitally enable operations and supply chain functions across the enterprise.

• Architect for Scale: Move fast and make durable architectural decisions across the enterprise application stack.  Define design patterns, technology choices, and integration approaches that deliver real business outcomes for operations and supply chain teams, built to grow with Slate's production volumes.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Partner with Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations to integrate enterprise systems across the full value chain from order intake to delivery to service, with clean APIs, robust event-driven architectures, and rigorous data governance.

• Enterprise Architecture Voice: Serve as a key technical leader in evaluating third-party platforms, SaaS tools, and integration approaches, ensuring every technology decision aligns with the broader enterprise architecture and long-term maintainability.

• Engineering Standards: Define and champion engineering standards across the team – code quality, testing, documentation, and delivery practices – so that what gets built is maintainable, scalable, and built to last.

• Talent Development: Hire, mentor, and retain exceptional engineers; foster a culture of technical excellence, ownership, and relentless improvement across scrums.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, Information Technology, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field is required.  Master's degree is preferred.

• Experience: 15+ years in software engineering, with 5+ years leading engineering teams of 10 or more, preferably in automotive, e-commerce, or manufacturing-adjacent environments.

• Proven Full-Stack Engineering Leadership: Hands-on background in React.js, microservices / serverless, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and AWS.  Demonstrated ability to both execute and lead – you can roll up your sleeves to review code and unblock the team while simultaneously driving architectural direction and engineering strategy.

• Enterprise Systems Depth: Meaningful experience delivering supply chain, procurement, or e-commerce systems at OEM or Tier-1 scale – understanding how data flows from supplier portal to factory floor to customer.

• Cloud-Native Fluency: Deep familiarity with AWS services, infrastructure-as-code, and cloud-native design patterns; experience operating systems at production scale with real SLAs.

• Integration Architecture: Strong grasp of API design, event-driven messaging, EDI integration patterns, and how to stitch together heterogeneous enterprise systems without creating a ball of mud.

• CRM and ERP Integration: Familiarity with CRM and ERP platforms and the integration patterns that connect them to custom-built operational applications – understanding where commercial systems end and custom engineering begins.

• Startup Orientation: Demonstrated ability to operate in fast-moving, resource-constrained environments – you know how to ship, how to cut scope without cutting corners, and how to rebuild while the plane is flying.

• Communication and Influence: Ability to translate technical complexity into business outcomes for non-technical stakeholders; comfortable presenting to executive leadership and board-level audiences.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must have the ability to travel (up to 25%).

• Must have the ability to lift up to 35 pounds.

• Must have the ability to stand, walk, and perform repetitive tasks for extended periods.

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

[email protected].