Team Lead, Ground Operations (3rd Shift)

Socket.dev; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking a Team Lead for Ground Operations on the 3rd shift to drive overnight fleet maintenance, rework, and readiness. You will lead a team of technicians and readiness associates, shape a strong workshop culture, and partner with cross-functional teams to translate goals into actionable plans.

The role emphasizes night-time optimization of maintenance, safety, and mission readiness, with responsibilities spanning software deployment, pre-mission checks, and logistics across sites.

Qualifications

• 5+ years hands-on automotive technician experience plus 2+ years in leadership.
• Willingness and ability to lead overnight operations (3rd shift).
• Extensive knowledge of automotive maintenance methods, diagnostic methods, parts, and tools, including CAN/LIN architecture, wiring diagrams, and soldering.
• Proven ability to translate technical details for cross-functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time, multitask, and drive priorities in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Clean driving record and ability to travel locally and nationally (less than 20%).

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Team Culture: provide leadership and mentorship to technical staff and contract personnel on the overnight shift.
• Team Development: recruit, hire, onboard, and train workshop personnel; foster accountability and safety.
• Resource Management: assist in scheduling employees and contractors, including time-off.
• Performance Tracking: monitor KPIs and provide feedback to improve performance.
• Continuous Process Improvement: streamline overnight maintenance/workflows using lean methodologies.
• Overnight Maintenance Optimization: lead vehicle maintenance and rework during low-demand periods.
• Technical Escalation: act as escalation point for complex issues, ensure quality standards.
• Data-Driven Operations: analyze fleet data for root cause analysis and downtime prevention.
• Safety Stewardship: enforce health and safety policies; maintain organized workshop.
• Mission Readiness & Logistics: software deployment, pre-mission checks, and yard logistics.
• Vehicle Operations: operate autonomous and auxiliary vehicles as needed.
• Multi-Site Support: coordinate across multiple sites within the geo.

Skills

Automotive repair

Team leadership

CAN/LIN architecture

Diagnostic methods

Education

Bachelor's degree in technical or business field

Trade school / Associate Degree in automotive repair

Tools

CAN/LIN wiring diagrams

Soldering

Automotive diagnostics tools

Job description

As the Team Lead for Ground Operations (3rd Shift), you will drive operational excellence by leading overnight fleet maintenance, rework, and mission readiness activities. Service efficiency and comprehensive fleet preparedness are key drivers of our success, making this role critical to ensuring that vehicle maintenance, reworks, and fleet readiness activities are optimized overnight during low-demand periods. You will be responsible for the holistic readiness of our vehicle fleet, ensuring maximum fleet uptime and vehicle availability for daytime operations.

In this technical leadership role, you will ensure vehicles are configured, maintained, and prepared for service, while shaping a positive workshop and depot culture. You will lead a team of skilled vehicle technicians and readiness and response associates on the overnight shift. By optimizing workflows and taking ownership of mission-critical readiness targets, you will act as a strategic partner to cross-functional teams, translating high-level operational goals into actionable plans for your 3rd-shift crew.

Shift: Sunday - Thursday, 11:30pm - 8am

In this role, you will:

• Strategic Leadership & Team Culture
• Overnight Shift Leadership: Provide direct leadership, coaching, and mentorship to both technical staff and contract personnel during the 3rd shift.
• Team Development: Engage in the recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training of workshop personnel. Foster a high-performance culture centered on accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Resource Management: Assist in creating and managing employee and contractor schedules, including time-off.
• Performance Tracking: Support the tracking of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure individual and team performance, providing consistent feedback to help your team achieve its mission.
• Continuous Process Improvement: Identify bottlenecks in overnight workflows and implement lean methodologies to streamline maintenance, repair, and fleet readiness processes, driving ongoing operational efficiency.
• Technical Execution & Maintenance
• Overnight Maintenance Optimization: Lead vehicle maintenance and rework activities during low-demand periods to maximize daytime vehicle availability and service efficiency.
• Technical Escalation: Serve as the primary escalation point for complex technical issues, ensuring all work meets rigorous internal quality standards.
• Data-Driven Operations: Support the analysis, documentation, and reporting of fleet data to aid in root cause analysis on component and vehicle-level issues, preventing future downtime.
• Safety Stewardship: Enforce all health and safety policies in the workshop. Ensure the facility remains clean, organized, and free of hazardous materials in accordance with company and OSHA guidelines.
• Mission Readiness & Logistics
• Software Deployment: Ensure the correct software and firmware are deployed to the right vehicles at the right time to support morning operations.
• Pre-Mission Checks & Ingest: Direct the ingest of vehicles, conduct rigorous pre-mission checks, and ensure the completion of readiness checklists for the first shift.
• Logistical Support: Oversee the logistical movement and storage of vehicles to ensure seamless shift transitions.
• Vehicle Operations: Manually drive and maneuver autonomous and auxiliary vehicles when needed to support readiness workflows and yard logistics.
• Multi-Site Support: Support team and vehicle fleet operations across multiple sites within the geo, coordinating across different Mission Readiness and Base Operations locations as operations scale.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on automotive technician experience combined with 2+ years of people leadership or supervisory experience.
• Willingness and ability to lead overnight operations (3rd shift).
• Extensive knowledge of automotive maintenance methods, diagnostic methods, parts, and tools, including high proficiency in CAN/LIN architecture, wiring diagrams, and soldering.
• Proven ability to quickly learn technical subjects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; must be honest, responsible, and capable of translating technical details for cross-functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time, multitask, and drive priorities effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment.
• Clean driving record and the ability to travel locally and nationally (less than 20%).

Bonus Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical or business field, or a Technical trade school certificate / Associate Degree in automotive repair.
• Strong understanding of electric vehicle architecture and high-voltage systems.
• Experience in a fast-paced service environment.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.