Software Development Manager, Commerce

Slate Auto; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Slate is seeking a Software Development Manager to lead the engineering team building our Commerce experiences in Seattle. You’ll shape how customers discover, configure, purchase, and receive Slate products, partnering with Product, Design, and engineering leaders.

You’ll hire, mentor, and retain engineers, set engineering standards, and drive architectural decisions while balancing speed and long-term technical excellence in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years building and delivering customer-facing software.
• 5+ years leading and developing software engineering teams.
• Experience designing and operating reliable, scalable distributed systems.
• Experience with modern ecommerce architectures and integrations across catalog, cart, payments, and fulfillment.
• Proven ability to lead through ambiguity and deliver high-quality solutions in fast-paced environments.
• Experience partnering with Product, UX, and Program Management to deliver customer-driven software.

Responsibilities

• Define, design, architecture, development, and delivery of Slate’s Commerce software.
• Build and develop a high-performing engineering team with clear direction and career development.
• Lead technical strategy and decision-making for Commerce, balancing user experience and business priorities.
• Simplify complex problems with innovation and sound judgment.
• Collaborate with UX and Product teams to build new customer-focused solutions.
• Act as a trusted technical leader aligning engineering and business teams.
• Balance technical leadership with strong business judgment to maximize impact.
• Establish and maintain a high bar for engineering quality, reliability, performance, and operations.

Skills

Tech leadership

Architecture

Distributed systems

Ecommerce integrations

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent

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:

Slate is looking for a Software Development Manager to lead the engineering team building our Commerce experiences. We’re building a direct‑to‑consumer EV brand from the ground up, and this role will help shape how customers discover, customize, purchase, and receive products from Slate.

You’ll lead the team responsible for building and evolving the systems that power Slate Commerce, spanning product discovery, vehicle and accessory configuration, cart and checkout, payments, order management, and fulfillment. You’ll partner closely with Product, Design, and engineering leaders across Slate to translate customer and business needs into clear technical direction and effective execution.

This is a people‑leadership role with strong technical depth. You’ll hire, develop, and retain engineers while setting engineering standards, guiding technical decisions, and driving execution. You’ll engage deeply in architecture and technical tradeoffs, particularly on complex or high‑impact initiatives, while building a team capable of independently delivering high‑quality software.

You thrive in environments where the path is not always defined. You enjoy solving complex problems, making thoughtful decisions with incomplete information, and balancing speed with long‑term technical excellence. At Slate, there is no distance between what you build and the impact it creates — your work will help define how customers experience an entirely new automotive brand.

What you get to do:

• You lead the definition, design, architecture, development, and delivery of Slate’s Commerce software.
• You build and develop a high‑performing engineering team, providing clear direction, coaching, feedback, and career development.
• You lead technical strategy and decision‑making for Commerce, balancing customer experience, business priorities, engineering velocity, and long‑term technical excellence.
• You relentlessly simplify, demonstrating significant innovation, creativity, and judgment when solving challenging technical and business problems.
• You collaborate with UX and Product teams to build and invent new solutions that put customers first.
• You are a trusted technical leader who drives alignment across engineering and business teams and is sought out for difficult technical and organizational decisions.
• You drive awareness of the business impact and consequences of technical decisions, balancing technical leadership with strong business judgment to make the right decisions for Slate.
• You establish and maintain a high bar for engineering quality, reliability, performance, and operational excellence.

What you bring to the team:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of experience building and delivering customer‑facing software, with 5+ years leading and developing software engineering teams.
• Strong technical leadership experience, including architecture, complex technical trade‑offs, and driving engineering decisions across teams.
• Experience designing and operating reliable, scalable distributed systems, including web services, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and modern software development practices.
• Experience with modern ecommerce architectures and integrations across product catalog, cart/checkout, payments, order management, and fulfillment systems.
• Familiarity with marketplace or multi‑vendor commerce models and the technical challenges they introduce.
• Proven ability to lead through ambiguity, simplify complex problems, and deliver high‑quality solutions in fast‑paced environments.
• Experience partnering closely with Product, UX, and Program Management teams to deliver customer‑driven software products.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence technical and business stakeholders at all levels.

WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?

• 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.