Director, Platform Operations
Job description
About the role
The Director, Platform Operations owns the complete lifecycle management of vehicle platforms at May Mobility, encompassing manufacturing, supply chain oversight, and technical support for autonomous driving kits. This leader is responsible for crafting strategic guidance that aligns production goals with overarching business objectives while rigorously ensuring quality, cost, and delivery targets are met. The role involves mentoring a multidisciplinary team and coordinating cross-functional execution to drive operational excellence. Leadership is measured by the team's outcomes, retention, and delivery reliability, requiring visibility, predictability, and generosity in context setting. The director will establish and refine the processes that enable efficient and safe autonomous vehicle platform development and deployment.
Key facts
What you'll do
Develop and execute production strategies to own the end-to-end lifecycle of vehicle platforms from conception through operations.
Engage with third-party fleet owners and operators to support and optimize fleet operations and performance outcomes.
Support and enhance Sales and Operations planning processes for production and deployment planning accuracy.
Develop, maintain, and monitor Objectives and Key Results to track progress against strategic goals.
Ensure the highest level of safety and quality standards throughout the development, testing, and operations phases.
Provide strategic technical vision and direction for vehicle systems engineering and autonomous driving subsystems.
Build and lead effective processes for working with safety-critical products, drawing from best practices in automotive or aerospace sectors.
Foster cross-functional collaboration to align engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams seamlessly.
Leverage data-driven decisions to support continuous improvement in production efficiency and field performance metrics.
Shape long-term operational strategy and build the organizational capability necessary for scalable autonomous vehicle deployment.
Requirements
The posting states a pay range of $165,000 to $205,000.
A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required for this leadership position.
10+ years of relevant work experience with proven success in managing complex programs is required.
People management experience, including hiring, onboarding, retention, coaching, and team building, is a strict requirement.
Experience setting technical vision and strategy for vehicle systems engineering and autonomous driving subsystems is mandatory.
Experience working with safety-critical products, preferably in automotive or aerospace, is a non-negotiable requirement.
A demonstrated history of leading through change and driving execution in fast-paced environments is essential.
Strong written and verbal communication skills are required to convey strategy and provide clear context to diverse stakeholders.
The ability to travel frequently, in the range of 26%-50%, is a necessary condition of the role.
Standard office working conditions include prolonged sitting, standing, and extensive computer use during operational reviews and planning.
Nice to have
Preferred experience in the autonomous vehicle industry or with similar transformative technology platforms.
Background in fleet operations optimization and engagement with third-party operators.
Familiarity with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving stack components.
Experience utilizing data analytics for operational decision-making and performance tracking.
Practical notes
Frequent travel, in the range of 26%-50%, is required for this role. Standard office working conditions include prolonged sitting, standing, and computer use.
Typical interview steps
Leadership hiring usually includes a strategy case, a people scenario, and a values conversation. Candidates may be asked to turn around a struggling team or plan for growth. Past results are examined closely, especially how decisions were made. Interviewers dig into specific decisions you made and their consequences. Preparing two or three decision stories with numbers and lessons is the best use of time.
Good to know
Advanced decision-making technology allows autonomous vehicle platforms to navigate complex environments safely and efficiently. Electric vehicle systems influence design, efficiency, and integration for urban mobility solutions. Cross-functional collaboration aligns engineering, manufacturing, and operations to ensure synchronized execution. Data-driven decisions support continuous improvement in production processes and field performance outcomes. Leadership in this role shapes long-term operational strategy and builds the organizational capability required for future growth.
Questions to ask
Useful questions for the interview include inquiring what a typical week looks like, how work is assigned across the team, and what tools the team utilizes for execution. Asking how the role has changed recently and what the team wishes it had known when joining is also a reasonable and insightful line of questioning. Candidates are encouraged to ask about the manager's immediate priorities to understand expectations and alignment.
Career growth
Leadership careers progress from manager to senior manager, director, and executive roles, with each step adding more scope and responsibility for outcomes. The best leaders continuously learn how to delegate effectively, communicate with precision, and make difficult decisions confidently. Leadership careers reward a consistent record of building and developing people, fostering talent, and enabling team success. The higher you advance in leadership, the more your communication shapes the entire organization and its culture.
About the company
May Mobility is transforming cities through autonomous technology to create a safer, greener, more accessible world. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May develops and deploys autonomous vehicles (AVs) powered by their innovative Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology that literally reimagines the way AVs think.