Vehicle Testing and Validation Director

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Motiv is a leading manufacturer of medium duty, zero-emission electric trucks and buses. Motiv produces a range of vehicles; including step vans, shuttle buses, box trucks and work trucks, all of which eliminate tailpipe CO2 emissions and particulate matter, while offering drivers and passengers a more comfortable, healthier and safer ride. Motiv’s combination of operational cost savings and environmental performance helps customers meet increasingly stringent emissions and pollution standards as well as achieve their own Net-Zero, ESG or other climate impact-related pledges and commitments.

Motiv is seeking a full-time, highly skilled, and experienced Vehicle Testing and Validation Director to lead our testing and validation efforts for our commercial electric trucks. The Vehicle Testing and Validation Director leads Motiv’s Test and Validation Engineering department, focusing on driving durable and high-quality designs across vehicle platforms. They are responsible for setting the strategic direction and technical execution of Motiv’s testing and evaluating process and procedures, ensuring compliance with industry standards and alignment with the company’s goals. 

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in vehicle testing methodologies, a keen eye for detail, and exceptional leadership abilities to manage a team of testing professionals. They must have a high degree of technical competence, written and verbal communication skills, and be comfortable working independently or collaboratively.  A Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a similar field is required. We are looking for candidates with 10+ years of OEM, or Tier 1 experience, preferably on HEV, PHEV, or BEV platforms.  The candidate must have over five years of experience in a leadership role with 5, or more, direct reports.  Additionally, the candidate must have experience working in structured engineering process including definition of requirements and objective function, concept creation, market analysis for components, analyzing options, and making final engineering decisions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of testing engineers, technicians, and support staff
• Allocate resources effectively to meet project deadlines and testing requirements
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability within the team
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including product development, software, and engineering, to ensure durability and reliability requirements are defined and met

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Testing Strategy and Oversight:
• Develop and execute comprehensive testing and validation strategies for new and existing vehicle programs, including durability, reliability, performance, NVH, environmental, and crash safety testing
• Define testing objectives, methodologies, and key performance indicators (KPIs) in alignment with engineering and product development goals
• Testing Operations Management:
• Oversee all aspects of testing operations, including lab-based, field, and proving ground tests
• Ensure that test equipment, facilities, and tools are maintained and calibrated to meet testing needs
• Implement and monitor best practices in data collection, analysis, and reporting to ensure accurate and actionable insights
• Collaboration and Cross-Functional Integration:
• Work closely with engineering, design, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure that testing insights are integrated into product design and development
• Lead the Computer Aided Engineering team – using test data to validate models and simulation to improve design capabilities
• Collaborate with suppliers and external testing facilities to support validation activities
• Serve as a technical advisor on vehicle testing and development during design reviews and cross-functional meetings
• Regulatory and Customer Compliance:
• Build and lead a Compliance Team to support Motiv’s regulatory interests
• Ensure all testing activities meet or exceed applicable regulatory standards, including FMVSS, UNECE, NHTSA, and others as required.
• Validate that vehicles comply with customer-specific requirements and specifications.
• Oversee the creation of test reports and documentation for certification and compliance audits.
• Innovation and Process Improvement:
• Identify opportunities to improve testing methodologies, reduce costs, and enhance accuracy and efficiency.
• Drive the adoption of new testing technologies, tools, and processes to maintain industry leadership.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes to resolve performance or quality issues.
• Program Management:
• Track and report progress on vehicle development and testing milestones to senior leadership.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure program success.
• Ensure testing budgets and timelines align with project goals and company objectives.
• Responsible for managing test fleet and budget.

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proactive and independent with the ability to take initiative
• Flexible to work in Factory environment on the floor to inspect /Troubleshoot 
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work with minimal supervision while producing high quality output in timely manner
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment
• High level of accuracy; ability to work with tight schedules and ambiguity in startup environment
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
• Confident, but not arrogant, “can do” attitude and demeanor, delegates, when necessary and appropriate, but instinctively “trusts” and “verifies”, demanding and uncompromising but always fair and equitable, passionate, and driven agent for continuous improvement, change and success
• Should be “hands-on”, hard-working, self-motivated and, more often than not, self-directed, should rarely need to be “coached up” and/or redirected
• Strong management, administrative and organizational skills and the ability to multi-task and stay cool under pressure
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to relate to and work with both internal and external customers, alike, at all levels

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in vehicle testing and validation, with a proven track record of leadership and success in a similar role.
• Deep understanding of vehicle dynamics, performance characteristics, and regulatory requirements related to automotive testing.
• Proficiency in test planning, execution, and data analysis, with experience using relevant tools and software.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with regulatory agencies, industry partners, and external testing organizations is a plus.
• Commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement, with a passion for delivering exceptional results.
• Experience running and maintaining a variety of vehicle level tests including Structural Durability, Corrosion, Reliability, Strength & Abuse, Water Fording, Coast Down etc. 
• Proficiency in using specialized testing equipment, data acquisition systems, and analysis software including accelerometers, strain gauges, wheel force transducers, Vector CAN tools, etc. 
• Proving ground and on-road / on-track experience preferred 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders. 
• Willing to travel up to 20% of the time 

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Able to work in field and shop environments when needed to support physical testing, bench tests and vehicle builds
• Flexibility to work in Factory environments, wearing PPE
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times 

Salary Range:

• $190,000.00-$230,000.00 (Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and training.)

This position is based in Novi, Michigan 

Candidates only please; no recruiters. 

Benefits & Perks 

• Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA, Health & Dependent Care FSA, 401(k), Basic Life and AD&D, Voluntary Life and AD&D, EAP (Employee Assistance Program), Education Reimbursement, and more!
• Generous PTO policy and 11 Paid Company Holidays.
• Online, on-demand Training & Development Programs.
• Bicycle friendly, with bike storage available to all Foster City employees with a 5 minute walk to the scenic Bay Front.
• Regular Happy Hours, Company Cultural Events, and more!