Supplier Quality Manager - Electrical and Lighting

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.

SLATE is looking for an energetic, organized, experienced Supplier Quality Manager, Electrical & Lighting to join our growing team. The SQM, Electrical & Lighting will lead supplier quality execution across Slate’s electrical and lighting supply base, with accountability spanning wiring harnesses, connectors, ECUs, lighting modules, headlamps, tail lamps, and related electrical and lighting components. This position is accountable for driving PPAP completion, functional and performance compliance, and supplier readiness in support of program milestones and production launch.

In this position, the candidate will be responsible for managing PPAP submissions and approval status across the electrical and lighting supply base, driving functional, performance, and regulatory compliance, and executing containment and corrective action at underperforming suppliers. The SQM will directly lead a team of Supplier Quality Engineers aligned to electrical and lighting commodities, providing direction, prioritization, and development support through launch and into production.

This role is pivotal in owning the electrical and lighting supplier quality relationship, coordinating readiness reviews and milestone gate activities, and working cross-functionally with Purchasing, Engineering, and Manufacturing to deliver electrical and lighting components that meet Slate’s quality standards and launch objectives.

• Engineering Degree or equiv. or previous working level experience
• 10+ years of Supplier Quality experience including PPAP management, APQP, dimensional and appearance compliance, commodity-based SQE team leadership, and launch support; prior people management or team lead experience required.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• Deep experience with electrical and lighting components including wiring harnesses, connectors, ECUs, lighting modules, headlamps, tail lamps, and related electrical and photometric assemblies.
• Demonstrated ability to manage PPAP milestones, drive functional and performance compliance, and close corrective actions with measurable results across a complex electrical and lighting supply base.
• Strong working knowledge of supplier KPI and scorecard development, with the ability to use data to track PPAP status, dimensional compliance, and supplier readiness progress.
• Ability to work directly with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Purchasing to coordinate PPAP approval, appearance sign-off, engineering disposition, and production readiness decisions.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills
• High level of integrity.
• Experience directly managing or leading a team of supplier quality engineers, including task assignment, performance oversight, and technical mentorship.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced start-up environment.

The compensation for 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.

Base Pay Range (Annual)

$123,339- $185,009 USD Annual

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.

At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness…