Sr Manager, Platform Architect

Pebble•Fremont, CA

5h•$156,000 - $208,000

About The Position

Pebble is a sustainable living startup defining a new way to live, work, and explore from anywhere with a 100% electric, hassle-free RV trailer. Built by a team of experts in both automotive and consumer technology, Pebble combines electrification with cutting-edge automotive technology for a travel trailer experience that removes the hassles RV trailer owners have struggled with for decades. At Pebble, we are building out the future of lighter, more flexible living. We see a world where your home can be anywhere you want to take it. Pebble blends the best of what it means to be at home, on the road, and off-grid into something useful and magical. This is a collective effort. Our team is dedicated to making not just products, but a lifestyle that is truly sustainable. If the idea of building out the future sparks your imagination and intersects with your skills, we'd love to meet you. We are seeking an accomplished Senior Manager, Platform Architect to define and lead the development of Pebble's core vehicle platform — spanning chassis architecture, body structure, underbody systems, and undermount battery integration. This role combines strategic platform thinking with hands-on engineering leadership, serving as the technical authority for how all underbody and structural systems come together into a cohesive, scalable platform. You will guide cross-functional teams while directly shaping platform decisions that define the product from the ground up.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
10+ years of experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, or specialty vehicle engineering, with deep expertise in chassis systems, body structures, or vehicle platform architecture, and at least 3 years in a technical leadership role.
Demonstrated experience owning platform or architecture decisions across underbody systems, including chassis frames, body structures, suspension integration, or battery enclosure packaging.
Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., CATIA V5/V6, NX, or equivalent) and familiarity with structural analysis tools (FEA); experience with formal DV/PV validation processes.
Strong knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes relevant to chassis and structural systems, including aluminum extrusion and casting, AHSS stampings, roll forming, and lightweight composites.
Systems-level thinker with the ability to manage complex interdependencies across mechanical, electrical, and thermal domains.
Excellent communication skills — able to articulate platform trade-offs and technical decisions clearly to cross-functional stakeholders, leadership, and suppliers.
Comfortable in a fast-paced startup environment with a hands-on, ownership-driven approach to ambiguous and evolving engineering challenges.

Nice To Haves

Experience with EV platforms, high-voltage battery integration, or towed vehicle dynamics is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end platform architecture for Pebble's electric trailer, establishing the structural and systems framework that governs chassis design, body structure, underbody packaging, and undermount battery integration.
Define platform-level requirements and design intent, translating product goals and constraints into an integrated architecture that balances performance, weight, manufacturability, safety, and cost.
Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of engineers across chassis, structures, and systems domains, setting technical direction while fostering a culture of innovation and rigorous engineering practice.
Actively contribute to the design and development of platform-critical components — including frame and chassis structures, body attachment interfaces, suspension packaging, underbody enclosures, and battery mounting and protection systems — from concept through production.
Drive packaging and layout decisions for underbody systems, ensuring optimal integration of the battery system, structural members, and service access within tight geometric and mass constraints.
Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, industrial design, manufacturing, and supplier teams to ensure platform architecture meets performance, safety, regulatory, and quality targets on schedule and within budget.
Conduct rigorous platform-level design reviews, providing technical direction on structural integrity, joint design, load paths, and system interfaces.
Oversee critical platform documentation including CAD models, architecture specifications, interface control documents, and BOMs, maintaining accuracy and alignment across the program.
Serve as the internal subject matter expert on chassis and structural technologies, materials (aluminum, advanced high-strength steel, composites), and relevant standards — identifying opportunities to innovate on weight, durability, and manufacturability.
Partner with battery and electrical teams to define and validate the undermount battery enclosure strategy, including thermal protection, crash safety, ingress protection, and serviceability.