Sr. Thermal System DRE

At Scout Motors, you don't just design vehicles- you shape the future of the road. Our Engineering team is where bold ideas meet rigorous execution, building machines that are as durable and capable as the people who drive them. You'll work shoulder-to-shoulder with brilliant minds across disciplines, turning complex challenges into elegant, scalable solutions that meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and user experience. This is a place where your fingerprints are found on metal – where what you design gets built, driven, and remembered. If you're hungry to engineer something that matters, Scout Motors is where that ambition finds its highest gear. 

The Senior Thermal Systems Design Release Engineer (DRE) serves as the technical leader and end‑to‑end owner of advanced thermal management components and subsystems across multiple vehicle programs. This role is responsible for leading the design, development, validation, release, and lifecycle support of complex thermal hardware including cooling modules, HVAC systems, refrigerant circuits, battery thermal systems, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and related fluid‑handling components. 

The senior DRE ensures that all thermal subsystems meet or exceed OEM performance, durability, cost, quality, manufacturing, and timing targets from program initiation through Job 1 and into post‑launch operations. This role requires deep technical capability, cross‑functional leadership, supplier management expertise, and the ability to resolve complex system‑level issues. 

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

Thermal System Leadership & Technical Ownership 

• →Serve as the senior engineering authority and “single point of responsibility” for assigned thermal systems within one or more vehicle platforms. 
• →Translate vehicle‑level thermal, energy, and performance targets into detailed component‑level technical requirements and specifications. 
• →Lead system integration efforts to ensure compatibility with vehicle controls, electrical architecture, software interfaces, and packaging constraints. 
• →Provide technical mentorship to junior DREs and influence cross‑functional engineering decisions related to thermal architecture. 

Advanced OEM Design & Release Execution 

• →Direct the creation, evolution, and approval of CAD models, drawings, specifications, and documentation within the PLM environment. 
• →Own part numbering strategy, BOM structure, and engineering releases for all gateway milestones across multiple vehicle programs. 
• →Lead high‑level design reviews, trade‑off discussions, and technical forums with product development, controls, electrical, manufacturing, and program leadership. 
• →Drive early issue identification and resolution through advanced analytical tools and system modeling. 

Supplier & Sourcing Leadership 

• →Serve as the chief technical interface to global suppliers, ensuring alignment on requirements, performance expectations, timing, and quality. 
• →Review, challenge, and approve supplier engineering documentation including DFMEA, DV plans, tolerance stacks, and material/process specifications. 
• →Partner with Purchasing to evaluate sourcing strategies, review commercial proposals, and assess supplier technical readiness. 
• →Lead supplier launch readiness activities including tooling kickoff, PPAP validation, and manufacturing capability audits. 

Validation Strategy & Vehicle Build Support 

• →Develop, own, and execute comprehensive DVP&R plans for thermal components and subsystems. 
• →Provide on‑site support for prototype, mule, VFF, and production builds; lead issue triage, root‑cause analysis, and corrective actions. 
• →Lead technical support for thermal testing campaigns including environmental chambers, weather events, dynamometer testing, and wind tunnel evaluations. 
• →Collaborate with Vehicle Integration and Controls teams to ensure system performance meets real‑world and regulatory requirements. 

Quality, Manufacturing & Launch Excellence 

• →Coordinate closely with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure that component designs meet plant requirements and process capabilities. 
• →Lead and support PFMEA reviews, control plan development, and PPAP documentation for thermal systems. 
• →Drive resolution of launch issues including leaks, noise and vibration concerns, flow restrictions, contamination, and supplier non‑conformances. 
• →Implement lessons learned and design optimizations to ensure continuous improvement across vehicle programs. 

• To be considered for career opportunities at Scout Motors, applicants must be 18 years of age or older. 
• Residing in San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Scout Motors will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 
• Residing in Los Angeles: Scout Motors will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. 
• Residing in New York City: This role is not eligible for remote work in New York City.

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.