Design Project Manager

Slate Auto; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Vacation

401k

Job summary

Slate is seeking a highly organized Project Manager to support our Design organization in delivering innovative automotive products from concept to execution in Carson, CA. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, manage budgets, schedule resources, and maintain alignment with project objectives.

The role requires 5+ years in product development, a design, engineering, or business degree, and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a professional product development environment, ideally in an automotive design studio.
• Bachelor’s degree in design, Engineering or Business disciplines
• Good working knowledge of project software management tools, such as Microsoft Project or Monday
• Aptitude to read technical drawings and models
• Strong communication & interpersonal skills a must

Responsibilities

• Create, review and update task-based project plans reflecting scope or schedule changes.
• Provide regular status updates to stakeholders.
• Coordinate with team members to meet deadlines and resolve issues.
• Manage project budgets by tracking progress and expenditures.
• Review deliveries against defined scope.
• Schedule internal and external resources for design deliverables.
• Coordinate inputs and dependencies with stakeholders and partners.
• Assist Design Leadership with modeling, surfacing and asset development.
• Organize timely completion of modeling team deliverables.
• Build relationships with Brand, Commercial, Engineering and Manufacturing teams for asset development.
• Support tooling and materials procurement for the project team.
• Produce monthly project reports and dashboards.
• Think creatively and collaborate to resolve issues and mitigate risks.
• Develop solutions to improve processes across Design and related teams.
• Work flexibly in a creative space with others.
• Travel domestically to support activities at other company locations.
• Identify critical paths and risk mitigations.
• Create Scope of Work documents for outsourced activities.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Technical drawing literacy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in design, Engineering or Business

Tools

Microsoft Project

Monday

Job description

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

We are seeking a highly organized, collaborative, and proactive Project Manager to support our Design organization in delivering innovative products from concept through execution. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced, creative environments and has a proven ability to coordinate complex projects, manage competing priorities, and build strong relationships across cross-functional teams. The successful candidate will bring a blend of project management expertise, business acumen, and an appreciation for the design and product development process. This individual is a natural problem solver who can anticipate challenges, identify risks, and drive solutions while maintaining alignment with project objectives, timelines, and budgets.

WHAT YOU GET TO DO

• Creating, reviewing and updating task-based project plans, reflecting changes in scope or schedule to ensure that the project stays on track
• Communicating with key stakeholders provide regular updates on project status
• Communicating with team members to ensure they are meeting deadlines, resolving issues, and following procedures
• Managing project budgets by tracking progress and expenditure against plan
• Reviewing project deliveries to ensure they meet the defined scope of requirements
• Scheduling resources, both internal and external to support Design team deliverables
• Liaising with key stakeholders, including other internal teams and external partners to agree inputs, deliverables and dependencies, and the timing of
• Assist Design Leadership in all managerial tasks related to physical modeling, surfacing and asset development
• Organize and ensure on time completion of physical modeling team deliverables
• Build relationships with internal design team members and key stakeholders, such as Brand, Commercial, Engineering and Manufacturing teams, relating to the asset development
• Support the definition and procurement of tools and materials for project team members to successfully deliver content

Additional Responsibilities

• Producing monthly projects reports, including a dashboard to clearly communicate status
• Ability to think creatively and work collaboratively to resolve issues and mitigate risks to projects
• Proactively work with colleagues within and outside of Design in developing solutions to constantly improve processes
• Ability to appropriately work in a creative space while working in unison with others independently and together
• Has wide latitude for independent judgement with only general supervision
• Keeps abreast of and support wider vehicle program and company needs
• Flexibility to support activities outside of the role
• Willingness to travel (domestically) to support activities at other company locations
• Ability to identify critical paths and associated risk mitigations
• Ability to create Scope of Work documents for outsourced activities

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a professional product development environment, ideally in an automotive design studio
• Bachelor’s degree in design, Engineering or Business disciplines
• Good working knowledge of project software management tools, such as Microsoft Project or Monday
• Aptitude to read technical drawings and models
• Strong communication & interpersonal skills a must

SALARY RANGE

The compensationfor this position is the range Slate reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including job-related knowledge; skillset; experience, education and training; certifications; work location; and other relevant business and organizational factors. Carson, CA

Annual Base Pay Range: $105,000 - 132,000USD

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS Slate offers a wide range of competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, vacation, and 401k. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in the equity program and/or a discretionary annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing such programs.

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 [e-mail].

About Us

At Slate, we’ve got one job: building a vehicle you’ll fall in love with, right here in the USA. We believe that car buyers—not car companies—should call the shots. We like looking at a road, not a screen. We don’t like paying for stuff we don’t need. We like picking out the stuff we do need. We think dings are badges, not blemishes. But we know not everyone likes what we like. So, we built you a Slate: you make it yours.