Director, AV Testing Operations

Motional•Las Vegas, NV

2d•$137,000 - $188,750•Onsite

About The Position

Motional’s Las Vegas office is located less than 10 miles from the Las Vegas strip at 730 E Pilot Road and is home to one of the largest fleets of self-driving vehicles. The city’s grid system of roads and being one of America’s “smart cities” allows for extensive research and development testing. Mission Summary: The Director of AV Testing Operations is a senior leader responsible for shaping and executing the vision, strategy, and performance of Motional’s global test operations. Reporting to the Senior Director of Operations, this role drives the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of Motional’s AV testing and commercial fleet. This role is responsible for addressing any fleet resource bottlenecks, rapidly implementing required hardware changes and managing daily requirements of fleet systems for operational readiness. As a strategic leader, you will oversee cross-functional teams, establish scalable operational frameworks, and build strong partnerships across engineering, program management, and fleet operations. You will champion a culture of safety, accountability, and innovation while ensuring that Test Operations directly enables Motional’s roadmap toward commercialization and a driverless future.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, test engineering, program management, or related technical domains, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership (Director or above) capacity.
Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguity, balancing operational planning with tactical execution
Demonstrated success leading large, distributed teams in a complex technical or R&D environment.
Strong track record of influencing across executive leadership, building cross-functional alignment, and delivering results at scale.
Expertise in performance management, organizational design, and workforce development.
Proven ability to implement strategic initiatives that drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, and efficiency.
Exceptional executive communication, public speaking, and stakeholder management skills.
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred (Engineering, Operations Management , or related field).
One of the following certifications in; PMP, PgMP, CSM, ISO 9001/45001, CSM (Preferred).
Flexibility to travel domestically up to 25%.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the Autonomous Vehicle or Automotive industry.
Familiarity with AV-specific hardware stacks (Lidar, Radar, Cameras) and calibration workflows.
Direct experience with ISO 26262 (Functional Safety) or developing Safety Management Systems (SMS).
Experience with DOT, NHTSA, or state-level DMV regulators.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the long-term vision for Test Operations, aligning resources, people, and processes with company objectives and commercialization milestones.
Strategic Roadmap: Define and execute the global fleet strategy, ensuring infrastructure and resources are positioned for market expansion.
Organizational Oversight: Lead, develop, and inspire a multi-level organization of managers, supervisors, and operators across multiple test sites, ensuring growth, accountability, and performance at every level.
Operational Excellence: Establish and refine policies, SOPs, and key performance metrics that ensure safety, efficiency, and reliability of all testing activities.
Executive Collaboration: Partner closely with senior leaders in engineering, safety, and product to ensure seamless integration of vehicle testing into Motional’s development and deployment lifecycle.
People Development: Build and sustain talent pipelines, mentor emerging leaders, and implement workforce strategies that support long-term growth and retention.
Innovation & Efficiency: Champion continuous improvement by deploying new tools, technologies, and operational models that enhance scalability and cost-effectiveness.
Cross-Functional Engagement: Represent Test Operations in executive forums, customer demos, regulatory engagements, and strategic initiatives such as new market entries and partnerships.
Data-Driven Innovation: Integrate and utilize data driven analytics to transform fleet maintenance from reactive to proactive, enhancing overall vehicle lifecycle value.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all fleet operations meet or exceed global safety standards and local regulatory requirements for autonomous vehicle deployment.
Cultural Leadership: Drive a culture rooted in safety, accountability, and collaboration while embodying Motional’s values.