Lead Engineer, Homologation Program Coordination & Compliance

Scout Motors • Novi, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Scout Motors is hiring 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 vehicle development through production launch and lifecycle changes. It serves as the program-level technical lead and subject-matter expert for homologation and regulatory compliance, working with regulatory agencies, technical services, certification bodies, Volkswagen Group partners, and internal teams.

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, establishes scalable processes and audit controls, and leads integrated certification planning across safety, environmental, noise, component, and other applicable requirements. It directs resolution of material compliance risks, reviews documentation and evidence packages, and represents Homologation in design reviews, governance forums, launch-readiness reviews, and change-control boards. The role also provides technical direction to engineers and extended team members, monitors emerging regulations, and develops reusable strategies and continuous-improvement practices.

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

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• 12 or more years of progressive experience in vehicle homologation, regulatory compliance, certification strategy, or related automotive engineering work.
• Experience leading major certification programs from development through approval and launch.
• Recognized expertise in U.S. vehicle and component compliance requirements, including FMVSS and NHTSA requirements, and 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, and software-enabled features, and their interactions with safety, environmental, and performance regulations.
• Ability to resolve significant and unique compliance issues, assess incomplete information and intangible risks, and exercise independent judgment on decisions that may affect the broader Engineering function.
• Ability to coordinate across internal functions, suppliers, technical services, and external authorities; explain 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.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical direction, review, or mentoring to engineers and extended team members without relying on formal people-management authority.
• Ability to work independently and communicate material risks, recommendations, and decisions to leadership.
• Integrity, curiosity, resourcefulness, a positive attitude, and a growth mindset; comfort with change and flexibility in a fast-paced, high-growth environment; and a collaborative approach.
• Ability to work in the office 4–5 days per week at the Novi, Michigan location and travel occasionally for company events.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Own homologation program coordination and compliance strategy for assigned vehicle programs, including certification approaches, governance, milestones, evidence requirements, and decision paths from development through launch and lifecycle changes.
• Serve as the lead technical interface and subject-matter expert for program-level homologation and regulatory compliance, coordinating with agencies, technical services, certification bodies, internal leadership, and Volkswagen Group partners as applicable.
• Interpret evolving regulatory requirements and assess effects on vehicle systems, components, software-enabled functions, testing, documentation, timing, and program risk.
• Exercise independent judgment on significant compliance issues involving incomplete information, regulatory interpretation, competing priorities, and broader functional impacts.
• Define and govern homologation change management and vehicle management, including 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 decisions 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 with Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Legal, Program Management, suppliers, and external partners to integrate compliance requirements into vehicle development and launch plans.
• Provide technical direction and guidance 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.
• Perform other related duties and activities as required.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, vision, and income protection insurance plans.
• 401(k) program with employer match and immediate vesting.
• 20 days of planned paid time off, as accrued.
• 40 hours of unplanned paid time off 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.
• Base salary and eligibility to participate in an annual performance bonus program.

What This Job Offers

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