Lead Engineer, Homologation Program Coordination & Compliance

Scout Motors • Novi, MI

2d • $160,000 - $192,500 • Onsite

About The Position

Scout Motors is seeking a Lead Engineer to own end-to-end homologation program coordination and compliance strategy for assigned vehicle programs. The role establishes certification approaches, governance, milestones, evidence requirements, and decision paths from development through production launch and lifecycle changes. It serves as the lead technical interface for program-level homologation and regulatory compliance, working with regulatory agencies, technical services, certification bodies, internal leadership, and Volkswagen Group partners as applicable.

The Lead Engineer interprets regulatory requirements and assesses their effects on vehicle systems, components, software-enabled functions, testing, documentation, timing, and program risk. The position governs homologation change and vehicle management, integrated certification planning, evidence and documentation readiness, compliance processes, audit controls, and resolution of material compliance risks. It represents Homologation in design reviews, governance forums, launch-readiness reviews, and change-control boards, while coordinating with internal functions, suppliers, and external partners. The role also provides technical direction to engineers, monitors regulatory developments, and advances reusable strategies and continuous improvement.

The position is based at Scout Motors’ Novi, Michigan location and requires 4–5 days per week in the office, with occasional travel to company events. This is a full-time, exempt position with a base salary range of $160,000–$192,500 and eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in vehicle homologation, regulatory compliance, certification strategy, or related automotive engineering work, including leadership of major certification programs from development through approval and launch.
• Recognized subject-matter expertise in U.S. vehicle and component compliance requirements, including FMVSS and NHTSA requirements, with broad knowledge of applicable Canadian and other regional regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrated success defining and governing homologation strategies, compliance plans, certification evidence, change control, and audit-ready processes across complex vehicle programs.
• Broad expertise across vehicle systems and components, including powertrain, chassis, electrical, electronics, software-enabled features, and their interactions with safety, environmental, and performance regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve significant and unique compliance issues, evaluate incomplete information and intangible risks, and exercise independent judgment on decisions that may affect the broader Engineering function.
• Proven ability to coordinate across Engineering, Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Legal, Program Management, suppliers, technical services, and external authorities; convey advanced information; and persuade diverse stakeholders.
• Experience serving as a lead technical interface with regulatory agencies, technical services, or certification bodies and presenting decision-ready recommendations to leadership.
• Advanced program leadership skills, including governance, integrated planning, milestone management, issue escalation, risk mitigation, change management, and executive-level reporting.
• Ability to establish scalable compliance methods, workflow instructions, tools, metrics, lessons learned, and standards that contribute to company and functional objectives.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical direction, review, or mentoring to engineers and extended team members without relying on formal people-management authority.
• Ability to operate with a high degree of independence while communicating material risks, recommendations, and decisions to leadership.
• Able to work in the office 4–5 days per week in Novi, Michigan, and travel from time to time for company events.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Professional certifications related to vehicle systems, regulatory compliance, project management, or quality.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end homologation program coordination and compliance strategy for assigned vehicle programs, including certification approaches, governance, milestones, evidence requirements, and decision paths from development through production launch and lifecycle changes.
• Serve as the recognized subject-matter expert and lead technical interface for program-level homologation and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies, technical services, certification bodies, internal leadership, and Volkswagen Group partners as applicable.
• Interpret evolving regulatory requirements and evaluate their effects on vehicle systems, components, software-enabled functions, test programs, documentation, timing, and program risk.
• Exercise independent judgment on significant and unique compliance issues involving incomplete information, regulatory interpretation, competing program priorities, and broader functional impact.
• Define and govern homologation change management and homologation vehicle management, including vehicle configuration, parts-status verification, evidence traceability, deviation control, and certification-impact assessment.
• Establish and maintain homologation processes, workflow instructions, methods, tools, plans, metrics, and audit controls.
• Lead integrated certification planning across safety, environmental, noise, component, and other applicable requirements, aligning development, testing, documentation, and approvals with program milestones.
• Direct cross-functional resolution of material non-compliance risks and certification blockers; define recovery actions, facilitate technical arbitration, and escalate decision requirements with impact assessments and recommendations.
• Lead preparation, technical review, and submission readiness of documentation, reports, technical data, and evidence packages for regulatory agencies and certification bodies.
• Represent Homologation in advanced design reviews, program governance forums, launch-readiness reviews, and change-control boards.
• Coordinate across Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Legal, Program Management, suppliers, and external partners to integrate compliance requirements and deliverables into vehicle development and launch plans.
• Provide technical direction and guidance to engineers and extended team members on regulatory interpretations, certification methods, evidence quality, and issue resolution.
• Establish best practices, reusable certification strategies, lessons learned, and continuous-improvement priorities.
• Monitor emerging laws, regulations, standards, and enforcement trends; assess future program impact and recommend proactive changes to strategies, processes, and vehicle-development plans.
• Perform other related duties and activities as required.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, vision, and income protection plans.
• 401(k) program with employer match and immediate vesting.
• 20 days of planned PTO, as accrued.
• 40 hours of unplanned PTO annually.
• 14 company or floating holidays annually.
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for biological and adoptive parents of all genders.
• Paid leave for bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave.
• Annual performance bonus program.
• Competitive compensation and benefits to support physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior