Director, Product Cost Excellence and Value Engineering

What you’ll do

Scout Motors | Senior Leadership Role | Driving product cost excellence, value engineering, and cross-functional transformation for the next generation of all-electric trucks and rugged SUVs

Scout Motors is building a modern, purpose-driven automotive company rooted in iconic American heritage and focused on the future of electrified mobility. We are looking for a Head of Product Cost Excellence and Value Engineering to establish and lead a cross-functional program that improves product cost competitiveness while protecting customer value, quality, performance, and brand integrity.

Become part of an iconic brand that is set to revolutionize the electric pick-up truck & rugged SUV marketplace by achieving the following:

• Lead Product Cost Excellence and Value Engineering initiatives within product development, partnering closely with Engineering, Procurement, Finance, Manufacturing, Quality, Logistics, and Supplier Development.
• Drive execution of product cost excellence strategy and contribute to its continuous evolution across programs and platforms.
• Drive adoption and improvement of governance, operating cadence, KPI tracking, and roadmaps to monitor cost optimization ideas through approval, execution, and financial realization.
• Lead cross-functional cost optimization workshops with internal teams and suppliers to generate practical, high-impact ideas balancing cost, customer value, quality, timing, and technical feasibility.
• Apply value engineering, design-to-value, competitive benchmarking, teardown insights, should-cost analysis, supplier cost breakdowns, and total cost of ownership methods to improve cost competitiveness.
• Develop business cases for cost optimization initiatives, including savings potential, investment needs, tooling impacts, engineering effort, timing, risks, payback, and overall financial impact.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to identify productivity improvements, localization opportunities, logistics efficiencies, material cost improvements, and process optimizations.
• Leverage data-driven cost analytics, digital workflows, and emerging technologies to improve visibility, decision quality, and execution speed.
• Lead and develop a team of product cost optimization and value engineering specialists.

Location & Travel Expectations

• This role may be based out of the Scout Motors corporate headquarters in Charlotte, NC / Novi, Michigan.
• This role requires 4-5 days per week in the office, with regular in-person meetings and events.
• Applicants should expect that the role will require the ability to convene with Scout colleagues in person and travel to participate in events on behalf of the company from time to time.

What you’ll bring

• 12+ years of experience in automotive engineering, procurement, product cost management, cost engineering, value engineering, manufacturing, or a related field.
• Proven success leading cost optimization and value engineering initiatives in complex product development environments.
• Strong understanding of vehicle systems, product development processes, supplier cost structures, industrialization, and lifecycle cost drivers.
• Experience using value analysis/value engineering, design-to-value, should-cost modeling, competitive benchmarking, teardown analysis, supplier cost breakdowns, and total cost of ownership approaches.
• Ability to translate technical and commercial opportunities into clear business cases, implementation plans, stakeholder decisions, and measurable financial outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional collaboration across engineering, procurement, finance, manufacturing, quality, logistics, product, and supplier partners.
• Strong financial acumen, analytical capability, and comfort working with cost databases, KPI dashboards, business cases, and executive-level reporting.
• Experience with digital tools, advanced analytics, AI-enabled workflows, or data-driven decision-making in product development or cost optimization is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, high ownership, strong communication skills, and the ability to drive structure and alignment in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

What you'll gain

• The benefits of joining Scout include the chance to build products and a company from the ground up.
• In addition, Scout provides competitive compensation and benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Program specifics are detailed in company policies and employee benefit guides, select highlights:
• Competitive insurance including:
• Medical, dental, vision and income protection plans
• 401(k) program with:
• An employer match and immediate vesting
• Generous Paid Time Off including:
• 20 days planned PTO, as accrued
• 40 hours of unplanned PTO and 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 circumstances related to bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave
• Corporate Vehicle Program with:
• Eligibility for 1 assigned vehicle
• A mobility stipend

Pay Transparency

This is a full-time, exempt position eligible to receive a base salary and to participate in an annual performance bonus program. Final salary offered will be determined based on factors including but not limited to the candidate's skills and experience. The annual performance bonus program is preset and not candidate dependent.

Equal Opportunity

Scout Motors is committed to employing a diverse workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, or any other characteristics protected by law. Scout Motors is committed to compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact ScoutAccommodations@scoutmotors.com.