Lead Engineer, Zonal ECU Design Responsible Engineer

Scout Motors • Novi, MI

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Scout Motors is seeking a Lead Engineer, Zonal ECU Design Responsible Engineer to own the end-to-end design and release strategy for zonal electronic control units (ECUs), from concept through production launch. The role applies independent technical judgment to significant and unique hardware issues and serves as a subject matter expert, coordinating across engineering domains and business functions to align stakeholders on technical decisions.

The position governs ECU hardware requirements and tradeoffs across areas such as power distribution, thermal management, signal integrity, diagnostics, cybersecurity interfaces, packaging, cost, quality, and timing. It leads architecture and design reviews, DFMEAs, validation strategies, technical decision forums, supplier technical activities, and resolution of escalated issues. The engineer also establishes scalable engineering practices, mentors team members, recommends improvements to vehicle and customer outcomes, and contributes ECU requirements and readiness input to production-facility and manufacturing-process design.

The role is based at Scout Motors' Novi, Michigan location and requires working in the office 4–5 days per week. Occasional travel for company events is expected. 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 or master's degree in electrical engineering, combined electrical/mechanical engineering, or a relevant field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in ECU hardware development and release, including leadership of critical ECU programs from concept through production launch.
• Demonstrated success launching critical ECUs into production, such as body electrical, powertrain, battery, drive unit, power distribution, zonal, or centralized compute systems.
• Recognized subject matter expertise in ECU hardware architecture, PCB design, component selection, thermal and power analysis, signal integrity, manufacturing, and validation.
• Ability to resolve significant and unique technical issues, evaluate intangible and competing factors, and exercise independent judgment on decisions that may affect a broader engineering function.
• Ability to coordinate across groups, convey advanced technical information, influence diverse stakeholders, and build alignment without direct authority.
• Strong understanding of automotive communication protocols, including CAN, LIN, Ethernet, and FlexRay, and their hardware implications.
• Experience across all phases of automotive product development, including requirements, design, sourcing, test, validation, launch, and lifecycle support.
• Experience directing supplier technical work and, where needed, guiding engineers or extended team members.
• Strong technical skills and ECU development and release expertise, using structured engineering and problem-solving methods such as Six Sigma, DFMEA, and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to work independently while communicating risks, recommendations, and decisions to leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Integrity, curiosity, resourcefulness, a positive attitude, and a growth mindset.
• Comfort with change and flexibility in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, with a collaborative approach to achieving ambitious goals.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with zonal architecture or centralized vehicle compute systems.
• Deep knowledge of cybersecurity and functional safety requirements.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory tools such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
• Experience establishing ECU engineering standards, reusable methods, or cross-program lessons learned.
• Strong problem-solving, technical leadership, persuasion, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end design and release strategy for zonal ECUs from concept through production launch.
• Exercise independent technical judgment on significant and unique hardware issues that may affect the broader Vehicle Software & Electrical Engineering function.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for zonal ECU hardware and coordinate across Body, Drive, Energy, electrical architecture, software, validation, manufacturing, purchasing, quality, and suppliers.
• Define, govern, and approve zonal ECU hardware requirements and technical tradeoffs involving power distribution, thermal management, signal integrity, diagnostics, cybersecurity interfaces, packaging, cost, quality, and timing.
• Lead ECU architecture and design reviews, DFMEAs, validation strategies, and technical decision forums.
• Evaluate incomplete information and competing program priorities to recommend effective solutions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable automotive standards and internal engineering requirements, including ISO 26262, EMC, ESD, cybersecurity, and manufacturing readiness expectations.
• Direct supplier technical activities and deliverables, establish performance expectations, resolve escalated technical issues, and ensure components and systems meet cost, timing, quality, and launch targets.
• Lead resolution of cross-functional and cross-domain issues during build events, validation, launch, and lifecycle change management, including root-cause analysis, risk assessment, recovery planning, and technical arbitration.
• Establish scalable zonal ECU engineering practices, lessons learned, design standards, and continuous-improvement priorities.
• Provide technical direction and mentoring to engineers and extended team members as needed.
• Assess consumer and vehicle-system impacts and recommend improvements to performance, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and customer experience.
• Contribute ECU technical requirements and readiness input to production-facility and manufacturing-process design for Scout trucks and SUVs.

Benefits

• Competitive insurance, including 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.

What This Job Offers

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