Manager, Prototype & Pre-Series Management

Overview

The Manager, Prototype & Pre-Series Management leads the operational planning, coordination, readiness, and execution of Scout’s engineering Prototype, prototype, and pre-series vehicle activities. 

The role provides leadership across engineering fleet operations, pre-series management, test-location and proving-ground coordination, and vehicle/test readiness. It establishes an integrated operating model to ensure vehicles, test assets, locations, logistics, and validation activities are aligned with vehicle-program priorities. 

Serving as the central operational interface among Vehicle Engineering, Verification & Validation, Prototype Builds, Logistics, Procurement, test organizations, proving grounds, and external partners, the Manager ensures that vehicles and supporting resources are available in the right configuration, at the right location, and at the right time. 

The role leads the team responsible for day-to-day execution while maintaining overall accountability for operational priorities, resource allocation, issue escalation, process maturity, and transparent reporting to program leadership. 

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:

Prototype & Pre-Series Operations 

• Lead the operational management of Scout’s engineering prototype, prototype, and pre-series vehicle activities. 
• Establish priorities for vehicle readiness, allocation, configuration, usage, movement, maintenance, and availability based on engineering and validation requirements. 
• Ensure engineering vehicles are available in the required configuration and condition to support development and validation activities. 
• Establish standardized processes for vehicle intake, handover, tracking, readiness, storage, and release. 
• Provide leadership and escalation support when vehicle availability, configuration, logistics, or operational constraints put program activities at risk. 

Pre-Series & Validation Readiness 

• Lead operational coordination between prototype and pre-series vehicle availability and planned engineering and validation activities. 
• Ensure alignment among Design Verification Plans (DVPs), vehicle availability, vehicle configuration, test requests, test locations, and program timing. 
• Establish visibility of planned versus executed validation activities and ensure significant gaps and risks are escalated. 
• Support prototype-build and vehicle-program milestone readiness through structured status reporting and risk management. 
• Drive resolution of conflicts involving vehicle demand, test priorities, available assets, timing, and engineering requirements. 

Engineering Fleet & Vehicle Logistics 

• Provide leadership for engineering fleet operations across applicable Scout locations. 
• Oversee vehicle receiving, release, internal handover, storage, transportation, operational readiness, and real-time status visibility. 
• Oversee domestic and international movement of prototype and engineering vehicles, including associated documentation and import/export requirements. 
• Ensure appropriate management of vehicle permits, insurance, compliance records, and prototype identifiers. 
• Oversee benchmark and competitor-vehicle operations where applicable and drive effective fleet utilization. 

Test Locations & Proving Grounds 

• Provide leadership for the identification, planning, evaluation, and utilization of proving grounds and other vehicle test locations. 
• Ensure test-site capabilities, availability, timing, and cost are aligned with engineering and validation requirements. 
• Oversee coordination with proving-ground operators, test agencies, and external partners. 
• Ensure test locations and associated logistics are secured early enough to support program and seasonal test requirements. 
• Support commercial and operational coordination with Procurement, Legal, and external test partners. 

Operational Planning & Program Integration 

• Translate vehicle-program and validation requirements into an integrated operating plan across vehicles, test locations, logistics, and supporting resources. 
• Establish short- and medium-term priorities based on program milestones and identify resource bottlenecks early. 
• Coordinate dependencies across Engineering, V&V, Prototype Builds, Logistics, Procurement, and external partners. 
• Provide clear status, risks, escalations, and decision requirements to program and engineering leadership. 

Team Leadership 

• Lead, coach, and develop the Prototype & Pre-Series Management team. 
• Establish clear ownership, responsibilities, priorities, and operating standards across the function. 
• Balance team capacity and workload against changing program demands. 
• Create a culture of accountability, transparency, proactive issue resolution, and hands-on execution. 
• Build scalable processes and organizational capability as Scout’s prototype and pre-series fleet grows. 

Governance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement 

• Establish operational KPIs and management reporting covering vehicle readiness, fleet utilization, validation readiness, logistics, test-location utilization, risks, and constraints. 
• Implement structured processes for identifying and escalating issues affecting program execution. 
• Drive standardization of processes, tools, and reporting across prototype and pre-series operations. 
• Capture lessons learned and incorporate them into future prototype and pre-series phases

Location & Travel Expectations:

• This role will be based out of the Scout Motors corporate headquarters in Charlotte, NC or Novi, Michigan.. 
• This role requires 4-5 days per week in the office, with regular in-person meetings and events. 
• Travel: Domestic and international travel is required to support vehicle operations, proving-ground activities, test campaigns, supplier engagements, and operational reviews. A valid driver’s license and p