Team Lead, Ground Operations (3rd Shift)

In this role, you will: • Strategic Leadership & Team Culture

• Overnight Shift Leadership: Provide direct leadership, coaching, and mentorship to both technical staff and contract personnel during the 3rd shift.

• Team Development: Engage in the recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training of workshop personnel. Foster a high-performance culture centered on accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.

• Resource Management: Assist in creating and managing employee and contractor schedules, including time-off.

• Performance Tracking: Support the tracking of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure individual and team performance, providing consistent feedback to help your team achieve its mission.

• Continuous Process Improvement: Identify bottlenecks in overnight workflows and implement lean methodologies to streamline maintenance, repair, and fleet readiness processes, driving ongoing operational efficiency.

• Technical Execution & Maintenance

• Overnight Maintenance Optimization: Lead vehicle maintenance and rework activities during low-demand periods to maximize daytime vehicle availability and service efficiency.

• Technical Escalation: Serve as the primary escalation point for complex technical issues, ensuring all work meets rigorous internal quality standards.

• Data-Driven Operations: Support the analysis, documentation, and reporting of fleet data to aid in root cause analysis on component and vehicle-level issues, preventing future downtime.

• Safety Stewardship: Enforce all health and safety policies in the workshop. Ensure the facility remains clean, organized, and free of hazardous materials in accordance with company and OSHA guidelines.

• Mission Readiness & Logistics

• Software Deployment: Ensure the correct software and firmware are deployed to the right vehicles at the right time to support morning operations.

• Pre-Mission Checks & Ingest: Direct the ingest of vehicles, conduct rigorous pre-mission checks, and ensure the completion of readiness checklists for the first shift.

• Logistical Support: Oversee the logistical movement and storage of vehicles to ensure seamless shift transitions.

• Vehicle Operations: Manually drive and maneuver autonomous and auxiliary vehicles when needed to support readiness workflows and yard logistics.

• Multi-Site Support: Support team and vehicle fleet operations across multiple sites within the geo, coordinating across different Mission Readiness and Base Operations locations as operations scale.

Qualifications • 5+ years of hands-on automotive technician experience combined with 2+ years of people leadership or supervisory experience.

• Willingness and ability to lead overnight operations (3rd shift).

• Extensive knowledge of automotive maintenance methods, diagnostic methods, parts, and tools, including high proficiency in CAN/LIN architecture, wiring diagrams, and soldering.

• Proven ability to quickly learn technical subjects.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; must be honest, responsible, and capable of translating technical details for cross-functional stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to manage time, multitask, and drive priorities effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment.

• Clean driving record and the ability to travel locally and nationally (less than 20%).

Bonus Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in a technical or business field, or a Technical trade school certificate / Associate Degree in automotive repair.

• Strong understanding of electric vehicle architecture and high-voltage systems.

• Experience in a fast-paced service environment.

• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.