Vehicle Program Manager

About Taiga

Taiga Motors is a rapidly scaling electric vehicle technology and manufacturing company leading the electrification of off-road powersports. Built on a clean-sheet platform, our vehicles deliver industry-leading power-to-weight performance and connected technology without sacrificing the environment. We work fast, dream big, and relentlessly chase perfection.

The Role

As the Vehicle Program Manager, you will serve as the operational nerve center for new vehicle development, steering products from initial concept through to a successful Start of Production (SOP). Reporting directly to the CEO, you will act as a trusted integrator across the organization, removing roadblocks and ensuring that cross-functional teams execute flawlessly.

You will be responsible for orchestrating the entire New Product Introduction (NPI) lifecycle. Your ultimate mandate is to introduce major coordinated changes and new vehicle platforms into the factory on time, on cost, and at the highest quality standards, adopting a "non-event launch" mentality.

Key Responsibilities

Program planning

- Build and own the integrated master schedule for each program, linking engineering, tooling, supplier, certification, manufacturing and commercial milestones to product introduction gates.

- Work with department leads to confirm their gate deliverables, owners and due dates, and track the critical path.

- Manage scope and engineering changes through the existing change-control process, showing impact on cost, timing and quality.

Cross-functional execution

- Run the weekly cross-functional program meeting; drive actions to closure.

- Check gate readiness: confirm each department's deliverables are complete before a gate review, and chase gaps early.

- Facilitate gate reviews and give the CEO a clear go/no-go recommendation backed by data. Record the decision, open risks and conditions to proceed.

- Resolve cross-department conflicts and dependencies; escalate to the CEO with options when trade-offs need a decision.

Cost, risk and quality

- Track program cost against targets with Finance: BOM cost, tooling and capex, development budget, and launch volumes. Flag variances early.

- Maintain the program risk and issue register and drive mitigation plans with the owning departments.

- Follow quality readiness with Quality and Supply Chain: DFMEA/PFMEA actions, validation and certification status, supplier PPAP, and launch quality targets.

Launch readiness

- Own the launch readiness plan: manufacturing ramp-up, supplier capacity, service readiness (parts, training, documentation), software release, and sales and marketing timing.

- Run launch readiness reviews and the SOP go/no-go checklist.

- Lead post-launch reviews to close open issues and capture lessons learned for the next program.

Qualifications & Requirements

- Education: Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related field).

- Experience : 5-10+ years of experience in complex manufacturing, automotive, or EV environments, with a minimum of 3 years directly managing NPI, Launch, or Vehicle Programs.

- Technical Acumen: Proven ability to read mechanical drawings and CAD models, coupled with a deep understanding of manufacturing equipment, automation, and tooling.

- Systems Knowledge: Previous experience successfully navigating and validating Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and ERP systems.

- Problem Solving: Excellent problem-solving skills with hands-on experience utilizing statistical tools and Six Sigma principles (e.g., DOE, root cause analysis) to optimize scalable processes.

- Leadership Style: Resilient, flexible, and comfortable with ambiguity. A strong capacity to influence without direct authority and inspire teams in a fast-paced startup environment.

What We Offer

- The opportunity to play a foundational role in shaping the future of outdoor exploration for a leading electric vehicle brand.

- Hands-on experience with Taiga vehicles—see the impact of your work out in the wild.

Benefits

- Fast-paced environment within a growing manufacturing company

- Company events – barbecues, employee demo days, etc.

- Comprehensive health plan

- Group RRSP

Taiga values diversity in hiring and in its workforce and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds, education, and experience. We recognize that there are many barriers to equal access to employment and career development opportunities, and we strive to hire underrepresented groups in the tech industry. Diversity at Taiga means fostering a workplace where differences are valued for the contributions they bring to our great team.

Thank you for your interest in TAIGA. However, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.