Lead Engineer, Zonal ECU Design Responsible Engineer

About the role

Here at Scout Motors, we're carrying forward the heritage of one of the most iconic American vehicles in history. A vehicle dating back to 1960. One that forged the path for future generations of rugged SUVs and trucks and will do so once again.

But Scout is more than just a brand, it's a legacy steeped in a culture of exploration, caretaking, and hard work.

The Scout brand is all about respect. Respect for the past and the future by taking an iconic American brand that hasn't been around for a while, electrifying it, digitizing it, and loading it with American innovation. Respect for communities by creating a company that stands for its people and its customers. Respect for both work and play, with vehicles that are equally at home at a camp site, a job site, or on a Tuesday commute.

And respect for our customers by developing two powertrains that meet their requirements - an all-electric powertrain as well as the Harvester™ range extender powertrain which includes a built-in gas-powered generator with an estimated 500 miles of combined range.

At Scout Motors, we empower our talented, inclusive, and entrepreneurial teams to innovate. What makes a Scout employee? Someone who is a visionary and a leader, who seeks new paths and shares lessons learned. A knowledgeable doer who collaborates across the company to build better. A go-getter with unrivaled passion.

Join us at Scout Motors and be part of shaping the future of transportation. If you're ready to drive change and make history, apply now!

What you'll do

Become part of an iconic brand that is set to revolutionize the electric pick-up truck & rugged SUV marketplace by achieving the following:

• Own the end-to-end design and release strategy for zonal ECUs from concept through production launch, exercising independent technical judgment on significant and unique hardware issues that may affect the broader Vehicle Software & Electrical Engineering function.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for zonal ECU hardware, coordinating across Body, Drive, Energy, electrical architecture, software, validation, manufacturing, purchasing, quality, and suppliers to convey advanced technical information and align diverse stakeholders.
• Define, govern, and approve zonal ECU hardware requirements and technical tradeoffs, including power distribution, thermal management, signal integrity, diagnostics, cybersecurity interfaces, packaging, cost, quality, and timing.
• Lead ECU architecture and design reviews, DFMEAs, validation strategies, and technical decision forums; evaluate incomplete information and competing program priorities to recommend effective solutions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable automotive standards and internal engineering requirements, including ISO 26262, EMC, ESD, cybersecurity, and manufacturing readiness expectations.
• Direct supplier technical activities and deliverables, establish performance expectations, resolve escalated technical issues, and ensure components and systems achieve program cost, timing, quality, and launch targets.
• Lead resolution of cross-functional and cross-domain issues during build events, validation, launch, and lifecycle change management, including root-cause analysis, risk assessment, recovery planning, and technical arbitration.
• Contribute to company and functional objectives by establishing scalable zonal ECU engineering practices, lessons learned, design standards, and continuous-improvement priorities.
• Provide technical direction and mentoring to engineers and extended team members as needed while working with a high degree of independence.
• Proactively assess consumer and vehicle-system impacts and recommend zonal ECU improvements that strengthen performance, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and customer experience.
• Contribute ECU technical requirements and readiness input to production-facility and manufacturing-process design for Scout trucks and SUVs.

Location & Travel Expectations

• This role will be based out of the Scout Motors location in Novi, Michigan.
• This role requires 4-5 days per week in the office, with regular in-person meetings and events.
• Applicants should expect that the role will require the ability to convene with Scout colleagues in person and travel to participate in events on behalf of the company from time to time.

What you'll bring

• We expect all Scout employees to have integrity, curiosity, resourcefulness, and strive to exhibit a positive attitude, as well as a growth mindset.
• You'll be comfortable with change and flexible in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• You'll take a collaborative approach to achieve ambitious goals.
• Here's what else you'll bring:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering, combined electrical/mechanical engineering, or a relevant field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in ECU hardware development and release, including leadership of critical ECU programs from concept through production launch.
• Demonstrated success launching critical ECUs into production, such as body electrical, powertrain, battery, drive unit, power distribution, zonal, or centralized compute systems.
• Recognized subject matter expertise in ECU hardware architecture, PCB design, component selection, thermal and power analysis, signal integrity, manufacturing, and validation.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve significant and unique technical issues, evaluate intangible and competing factors, and exercise independent judgment on decisions that may affect a broader engineering function.
• Proven ability to coordinate across groups, convey advanced technical information, influence diverse stakeholders, and build alignment without direct authority.
• Strong understanding of automotive communication protocols, including CAN, LIN, Ethernet, and FlexRay, and their hardware implications.
• Experience covering all phases of automotive product development, including requirements, design, sourcing, test, validation, launch, and lifecycle support.
• Demonstrated experience directing supplier technical work and, where needed, guiding the activities of engineers or extended team members.
• Strong technical skills and expertise in ECU development and release, using structured engineering and problem-solving methods such as Six Sigma, DFMEA, and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to operate with a high degree of independence while communicating risks, recommendations, and decisions to leadership and cross-functional partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with zonal architecture or centralized vehicle compute systems.
• Deep knowledge of cybersecurity and functional safety requirements.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory tools such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
• Experience establishing ECU engineering standards, reusable methods, or cross-program lessons learned.
• Strong problem-solving, technical leadership, persuasion, and communication skills.

Pay and benefits

The benefits of joining Scout include the chance to build products and a company from the ground up. This is a chance to create something new and lasting - with an iconic brand at its foundation. In addition, Scout provides competitive compensation and benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing. Program specifics are detailed in company policies and employee benefit guides, select highlights:

• Competitive insurance including:
• Medical, dental, vision and income protection plans
• 401(k) program with:
• An employer match and immediate vesting
• Generous Paid Time Off including:
• 20 days planned PTO, as accrued
• 40 hours of unplanned PTO and 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 circumstances related to bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave

Pay Transparency

This is a full-time, exempt position eligible to receive a base salary and to participate in an annual performance bonus program. Final salary offered will be determined based on factors including but not limited to the candidate's skills and experience. The annual performance bonus program is preset and not candidate dependent.

Initial base salary range = $160,000.00 - $192,500.00

Internal leveling code: IC7