Back to jobs
New

Director of Vehicle Safety, Homologation, and Regulatory Compliance

Troy, MI

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.  We are unable to financially sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for this opportunity currently.


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 is seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Vehicle Safety, Homologation, and Regulatory Compliance to lead our efforts in establishing a robust vehicle safety foundation and standardizing our approach to vehicle safety.  This role is critical in ensuring that our vehicles are engineered, tested, and validated to meet the highest safety standards, protecting our customers and enhancing our brand reputation.


What you get to do:

  • Strategic Leadership: Further develop and implement a comprehensive vehicle homologation and certification process and plan that aligns with the company's mission and objectives. Establish long-term safety goals and ensure continuous improvement in vehicle safety performance.
  • Direct and Guide Team: Direct and guide the existing Homologation and Certification Team and establish a robust homologation and certification process with standardized methods and tools.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all vehicles comply with relevant safety regulations and standards, including FMVSS, NHTSA, CARB / EPA, and international regulations, if required.
  • Safety Engineering: Work in tandem with the Safety Systems engineering and Virtual Validation teams to support the homologation and certification process for vehicles, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards with laser focus on crash worthiness and occupant protection performance.
  • Testing and Validation: Oversee the development and execution of rigorous testing and validation protocols, including crash testing, and real-world evaluations. Ensure all safety tests are thoroughly documented and analyzed.
  • Standardization: Develop and implement standardized safety procedures and protocols across all vehicle programs. Ensure consistency in safety practices and adherence to best practices.
  • Champion: Lead leadership cross functional discussions and decisions on product integrity topics. Be the first line of communication with the automotive regulatory and safety authorities (i.e., NHTSA, IIHS, CARB / EPA, etc.).
  • Incident Investigation: Conduct field investigations into safety-related incidents, identifying root causes and working with attorneys on field incidents. Develop and maintain a robust incident reporting and analysis system.
  • Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including Engineering, Design, Manufacturing, and Quality, to ensure safety is integrated into all stages of vehicle development and production.
  • Training and Development: Provide ongoing training and development for employees on vehicle safety standards, technologies, and best practices. Promote a culture of safety within the organization.
  • Innovation: Stay updated on the latest advancements in vehicle safety technologies and regulations. Drive innovation in safety features and processes to maintain a competitive edge.
  • Reporting: Prepare and present detailed reports on vehicle safety performance, incidents, and improvements to senior management and regulatory authorities.


What you bring to the team:

  • Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field is required. Master's degree is preferred.
  • Experience: 15+ years of experience in vehicle safety engineering, testing, regulatory compliance, and product liability within the automotive industry.
  • Regulatory Knowledge: In-depth knowledge and expertise in FMVSS, NHTSA, CARB / EPA, and other relevant safety standards and regulations.
  • Product Liability Knowledge: In depth knowledge and expertise in automotive product liability.
  • Technical Skills: Proficiency in safety testing methodologies, crash simulation tools, and validation techniques.
  • Leadership: Proven leadership and project management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical information to diverse audiences.
  • Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing safety issues.


Physical Requirements:

  • Must have the ability to travel (up to 10%).
  • Must have the ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
  • Must have the ability to stand, walk, and perform repetitive tasks for extended periods.


Why Join Team Slate?

We’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail.  Slate’s start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness moves 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 recar-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Slate’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.