Manufacturing OT Manager

ABOUT SLATE

At Slate were building safe reliable vehicles that people can afford personalize and loveand doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate because people should have control over how their trucks look feel and represent them.

WHAT YOU GET TO DO

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead develop and mentor a team of OT engineers and technicians supporting 24/7 automotive manufacturing operations

• Define and execute the OT department roadmap including automation upgrades cybersecurity maturity and digital transformation initiatives

• Develop department budget manage capital expenditure requests and optimize operational spending

• Establish OT policies standards and procedures aligned with plant and corporate objectives

• Serve as the primary OT stakeholder in plant leadership meetings capital project planning and new model launch reviews

OT Cybersecurity

• Own the plant OT cybersecurity program including risk assessments vulnerability management and incident response

• Enforce network segmentation between IT and OT environments and manage secure remote access for vendors and integrators

• Ensure compliance with customer cybersecurity mandates (Ford GISRS GM cybersecurity standards Stellantis requirements) and industry frameworks (IEC 62443 NIST CSF)

• Lead response and recovery efforts in the event of an OT cybersecurity incident

Systems & Infrastructure Oversight

• Oversee all plant OT assets including PLCs robotics controllers SCADA HMI MES integrations industrial networks and end-of-line test systems

• Ensure backup version control and disaster recovery procedures are in place for all critical control systems and robot programs

• Manage the OT asset inventory and drive obsolescence mitigation planning for aging equipment

• Direct plant networking infrastructure supporting production zones including body shop paint shop general assembly stamping and material handling

Production Support & Reliability

• Ensure OT systems support plant uptime targets and contribute to OEE improvement initiatives

• Establish and maintain on-call support structure to ensure 24/7 OT coverage for production operations

• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action for OT-related downtime events

• Collaborate with maintenance manufacturing engineering and production leadership to prioritize and resolve control system issues

Change & Project Management

• Own the OT change management process ensuring all modifications to control systems are documented approved and communicated to production

• Lead OT workstreams for new model launches annual changeovers and capital improvement projects

• Manage Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) for new automation equipment

• Oversee robot reprogramming and control system updates tied to retooling and product changes

IT/OT Integration & Digital Initiatives

• Collaborate with IT to ensure secure and effective data flows between plant floor systems and enterprise platforms (SAP MES quality systems)

• Lead or support IIoT data historian and analytics initiatives on the plant floor

• Evaluate and pilot emerging OT technologies to improve production efficiency quality and visibility

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with automation OEMs system integrators and technology vendors (Rockwell Siemens FANUC KUKA ABB etc.)

• Negotiate and oversee support contracts licensing agreements and service-level agreements for OT systems

• Coordinate vendor access to plant floor systems in compliance with cybersecurity and safety policies

• Act as primary OT contact for customer representatives and third-party auditors

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure OT systems and processes support IATF 16949 certification requirements

• Maintain traceability system integrity for safety-critical processes including welds torque and adhesive applications

• Support internal and external audits related to process control cybersecurity and system documentation

• Ensure all OT activities comply with OSHA machine safety standards and plant lockout/tagout procedures

Team Development & Training

• Define staffing requirements and lead recruiting efforts for OT engineering and technician roles

• Establish training plans for OT staff covering control systems cybersecurity awareness and automotive manufacturing processes

• Develop succession plans and cross-training programs to reduce key-person dependency

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement accountability and collaboration within the OT team

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

• 12 years related experience with Bachelors degree 8 years with Masters degree 5 years with PhD or equivalent experience

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Computer Engineering Automation Information Technology or equivalent experience

• 5 years of experience in OT or IT automation or controls engineering in a manufacturing environment

• 3 years in a leadership or management role

• Working knowledge of OT cybersecurity principles and frameworks (IEC 62443 NIST CSF)

• Experience supporting automotive manufacturing operations (body paint assembly or stamping)

• Strong understanding of IT/OT convergence MES integration and industrial data architectures

Preferred

• Experience with new model launches or major capital projects in an automotive plant

• Familiarity with customer-specific cybersecurity and quality requirements (Ford GM Stellantis Toyota BMW etc.)

• Knowledge of IATF 16949 PFMEA and control plan processes

• Certifications such as GICSP (Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional) CSSA or Rockwell/Siemens automation credentials

• Experience with IIoT platforms data historians (OSIsoft PI Ignition) and analytics tools

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking with the ability to execute at a tactical level

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across operations IT and engineering

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive results in a fast-paced production environment

• Sound judgment in balancing cybersecurity rigor with operational availability

• Effective vendor negotiation and contract management

• Data-driven decision making and continuous improvement mindset

WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE

At Slate were fueled by grit determination and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence innovation and mutual respect and is motivated by shared principles.

• Safety First

• Delight Customers

• One Team

• Relentless Improvement

• Fast Frugal and Scrappy

• Respectful Collaboration

• Positive Legacy

WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.

Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race color religion gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation national origin genetics disability age veteran status marital status parental status cultural background organizational level work styles tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.

Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability you may contact us at