Manager of IT Infrastructure

Slate Auto; Warsaw (IN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Professional growth opportunities

Training & certification support

Job summary

Slate Auto is seeking an experienced Manager of IT Infrastructure to guide Systems and Network Engineering at our Warsaw plant. You will own the infrastructure roadmap, oversee server, network, cloud, and OT/ICS initiatives, and drive automation and security while partnering with production teams.

We value hands-on leadership, mentoring of engineers, and the ability to align IT strategies with manufacturing operations. Join a growing automotive tech environment with strong growth potential.

Qualifications

• Hands-on roots in infrastructure with leadership experience.
• Experience in mixed IT/OT environments is preferred.
• Ability to mentor engineers and translate complex concepts for stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead Systems and Network Engineering teams at the Warsaw plant.
• Own infrastructure roadmap across server, network, cloud, and OT/ICS.
• Drive automation, monitoring, and IaC adoption; ensure reliability and security.
• Manage incident response, on-call rotations, and post-incident reviews.
• Partner with operations and business to align IT with production goals.

Skills

Team leadership

Linux server admin

Windows server admin

Cloud infrastructure

Networking

Automation & IaC

OT/ICS familiarity

Project management

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT/CS

Tools

Proxmox

VMware

Hyper-V

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS (EC2/RDS/VPC)

Ansible/Terraform

Zabbix/Prometheus/Grafana

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

Slt is looking for an experienced and driven Manager of IT Infrastructure to lead our Systems and Network Engineering teams at our Warsaw manufacturing plant. This leader will be responsible for the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of Slate's infrastructure across server, network, cloud, and operational technology (OT) environments. The ideal candidate is a technically credible manager who has hands-on roots in infrastructure and has grown into a leadership role. They are equally comfortable reviewing architecture decisions, mentoring engineers, and engaging with plant operations and business stakeholders. This person will play a critical role in building the infrastructure foundation that powers Slate's manufacturing and corporate operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development: Directly manage and develop a team of Systems Engineers and Network Engineers, providing clear direction, coaching, and career growth opportunities. Set team priorities, manage workload distribution, and ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across infrastructure disciplines. Foster a culture of accountability, documentation, and continuous improvement within the team. Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and goal-setting aligned with departmental objectives.
• Infrastructure Strategy & Execution: Own the overall infrastructure roadmap for the Warsaw plant, covering server, network, cloud, and OT/ICS environments. Lead planning and execution of infrastructure projects including new deployments, upgrades, migrations, and capacity expansion. Ensure infrastructure reliability, security, and scalability to meet the demands of a growing manufacturing operation. Drive adoption of automation, monitoring, and infrastructure-as-code practices across the team.
• Operations & Incident Management: Establish and maintain operational standards, runbooks, and change management processes. Serve as the escalation point for critical infrastructure incidents; lead post-incident reviews and drive resolution of systemic issues. Oversee on-call rotations and after-hours maintenance coverage to ensure 24/7 operational readiness. Partner with plant operations to minimize downtime and ensure IT/OT systems support production continuity.
• Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Manage relationships with infrastructure vendors, service providers, and managed service partners. Collaborate with IT leadership, plant management, and engineering teams to align infrastructure initiatives with business priorities. Support budgeting, procurement, and asset lifecycle management for infrastructure hardware and software.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field required. Advanced degree a plus.
• Experience: 8–12 years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure, with at least 3 years in a people management role. Proven track record leading infrastructure teams in complex, multi-site or manufacturing environments. Hands-on background in systems engineering (Linux/Windows server administration) and/or network engineering. Experience managing infrastructure in mixed IT/OT environments is strongly preferred.
• Technical Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of Linux server administration (RHEL/Rocky), virtualization platforms (Proxmox, VMware, or Hyper-V), and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes). Solid understanding of enterprise networking: routing, switching, VLANs, firewalling, VPNs, and network segmentation. Experience with cloud infrastructure, particularly AWS (EC2, RDS, VPC, IAM, security groups). Familiarity with infrastructure automation and monitoring tools (Ansible, Terraform, Zabbix, Prometheus/Grafana). Working knowledge of OT/ICS environments and industrial networking concepts is a strong plus.
• Certifications (Preferred): ITIL Foundation or equivalent service management certification. AWS Solutions Architect, Certified SysOps Administrator, or equivalent cloud certification. RHCSA/RHCE, CCNA/CCNP, or other relevant infrastructure certifications.
• Leadership & Soft Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing technical teams. Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and execute in a fast-paced environment. Excellent communication skills — able to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders. Data-driven decision-maker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Comfortable with ambiguity and capable of building structure in a high-growth, greenfield environment.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development in an innovative automotive environment.
• Work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team at the forefront of automotive technology.
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and tooling.
• Paid training and certification support for continued professional development.

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

Slt 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. Slt 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.