Lead Engineer, Homologation Program Coordination & Compliance (Automotive)

Location: Novi, Michigan, United States; based at the hirify.global location with 4–5 days per week in the office, regular in-person meetings and events, and occasional travel.

Base salary: $160,000–$192,500 annually, plus eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Company

hirify.global is developing electrified, digitally enabled pickup trucks and rugged SUVs, including all-electric and range-extender powertrains.

What you will do

• Own end-to-end homologation program coordination and compliance strategy from vehicle development through production launch and lifecycle changes.
• Act as the lead technical interface with regulatory agencies, technical services, certification bodies, internal leadership, and Volkswagen Group partners.
• Interpret regulatory requirements and assess their impact on vehicle systems, components, software-enabled functions, testing, documentation, timing, and program risk.
• Govern homologation change management, vehicle configuration, parts-status verification, evidence traceability, deviation control, and certification-impact assessment.
• Lead integrated certification planning across safety, environmental, noise, component, and other applicable requirements; prepare and review submission documentation and evidence packages.
• Resolve compliance risks and certification blockers, represent Homologation in design and governance forums, coordinate cross-functional stakeholders, and provide technical direction to engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field from an accredited college or university. A master’s degree is preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in vehicle homologation, regulatory compliance, certification strategy, or related automotive engineering work, including leadership of major certification programs through approval and launch.
• Recognized expertise in U.S. vehicle and component compliance requirements, including FMVSS and NHTSA requirements, with broad knowledge of Canadian and other regional frameworks.
• Experience defining and governing homologation strategies, compliance plans, certification evidence, change control, and audit-ready processes across complex vehicle programs.
• Broad expertise across powertrain, chassis, electrical, electronics, software-enabled features, and their interactions with safety, environmental, and performance regulations.
• Ability to resolve significant compliance issues, evaluate incomplete information and intangible risks, exercise independent judgment, and communicate material risks and recommendations to leadership.
• Experience coordinating across Engineering, Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Legal, Program Management, suppliers, technical services, and external authorities.
• Experience serving as a lead technical interface with regulatory agencies, technical services, or certification bodies and presenting recommendations to leadership.
• Advanced program leadership skills covering governance, integrated planning, milestones, escalation, risk mitigation, change management, and executive reporting.
• Ability to establish scalable compliance methods, workflows, tools, metrics, lessons learned, and standards, and to provide technical direction, review, or mentoring without formal people-management authority.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree.
• Professional certifications related to vehicle systems, regulatory compliance, project management, or quality.

Culture & Benefits

• Entrepreneurial, inclusive, collaborative, and fast-paced high-growth environment.
• Medical, dental, vision, and income protection plans.
• 401(k) program with employer match and immediate vesting.
• 20 days of planned PTO, 40 hours of unplanned PTO, and 14 company or floating holidays annually.
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave, plus paid leave for bereavement, jury duty, voting time, and military leave.