Job description

ABOUT SLATE At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them. Who We Are Looking For Slate is looking for an experienced and driven Manager of IT Infrastructure to lead our Systems and Network Engineering teams at our Warsaw manufacturing plant. This leader will be responsible for the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of Slate’s infrastructure across server, network, cloud, and operational technology (OT) environments. The ideal candidate is a technically credible manager who has hands-on roots in infrastructure and has grown into a leadership role. They are equally comfortable reviewing architecture decisions, mentoring engineers, and engaging with plant operations and business stakeholders. This person will play a critical role in building the infrastructure foundation that powers Slate’s manufacturing and corporate operations. Key Responsibilities Team Leadership & Development: Directly manage and develop a team of Systems Engineers and Network Engineers, providing clear direction, coaching, and career growth opportunities. Set team priorities, manage workload distribution, and ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across infrastructure disciplines. Foster a culture of accountability, documentation, and continuous improvement within the team. Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and goal-setting aligned with departmental objectives. Infrastructure Strategy & Execution: Own the overall infrastructure roadmap for the Warsaw plant, covering server, network, cloud, and OT/ICS environments. Lead planning and execution of infrastructure projects including new deployments, upgrades, migrations, and capacity expansion. Ensure infrastructure reliability, security, and scalability to meet the demands of a growing manufacturing operation. Drive adoption of automation, monitoring, and infrastructure-as-code practices across the team. Operations & Incident Management: Establish and maintain operational standards, runbooks, and change management processes. Serve as the escalation point for critical infrastructure incidents; lead post-incident reviews and drive resolution of systemic issues. Oversee on-call rotations and after-hours maintenance coverage to ensure 24/7 operational readiness. Partner with plant operations to minimize downtime and ensure IT/OT systems support production continuity. Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Manage relationships with infrastructure vendors, service providers, and managed service partners. Collaborate with IT leadership, plant management, and engineering teams to align infrastructure initiatives with business priorities. Support budgeting, procurement, and asset lifecycle management for infrastructure hardware and software. Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field required. Advanced degree a plus. Experience: 8–12 years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure, with at least 3 years in a people management role. Proven track record leading infrastructure teams in complex, multi-site or manufacturing environments. Hands-on background in systems engineering (Linux/Windows server administration) and/or network engineering. Experience managing infrastructure in mixed IT/OT environments is strongly preferred. Technical Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of Linux server administration (RHEL/Rocky), virtualization platforms (Proxmox, VMware, or Hyper-V), and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes). Solid understanding of enterprise networking: routing, switching, VLANs, firewalling, VPNs, and network segmentation. Experience with cloud infrastructure, particularly AWS (EC2, RDS, VPC, IAM, security groups). Familiarity with infrastructure automation and monitoring tools (Ansible, Terraform, Zabbix, Prometheus/Grafana). Working knowledge of OT/ICS environments and industrial networking concepts is a strong plus. Certifications (Preferred): ITIL Foundation or equivalent service management certification. AWS Solutions Architect, Certified SysOps Administrator, or equivalent cloud certification. RHCSA/RHCE, CCNA/CCNP, or other relevant infrastructure certifications. Leadership & Soft Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing technical teams. Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and execute in a fast-paced environment. Excellent communication skills — able to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders. Data-driven decision-maker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Comfortable with ambiguity and capable of building structure in a high-growth, greenfield environment. What We Offer Competitive salary and benefits package. Opportunities for professional growth and development in an innovative automotive environment. Work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team at the forefront of automotive technology. Access to state-of-the-art facilities and tooling. Paid training and certification support for continued professional development. WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE? At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles. Safety First Delight Customers One Team Relentless Improvement Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy Respectful Collaboration Positive Legacy WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE. Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason. Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at slate-talent_acquisition slate.auto.

Requirements

Must-haves

Directly manage and develop a team of Systems Engineers and Network Engineers, providing clear direction, coaching, and career growth opportunities.
Set team priorities, manage workload distribution, and ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across infrastructure disciplines.
Foster a culture of accountability, documentation, and continuous improvement within the team.
Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and goal-setting aligned with departmental objectives.
Own the overall infrastructure roadmap for the Warsaw plant, covering server, network, cloud, and OT/ICS environments.
Lead planning and execution of infrastructure projects including new deployments, upgrades, migrations, and capacity expansion.
Ensure infrastructure reliability, security, and scalability to meet the demands of a growing manufacturing operation.
Drive adoption of automation, monitoring, and infrastructure-as-code practices across the team.
Establish and maintain operational standards, runbooks, and change management processes.
Serve as the escalation point for critical infrastructure incidents; lead post-incident reviews and drive resolution of systemic issues.
Oversee on-call rotations and after-hours maintenance coverage to ensure 24/7 operational readiness.
Partner with plant operations to minimize downtime and ensure IT/OT systems support production continuity.
Manage relationships with infrastructure vendors, service providers, and managed service partners.
Collaborate with IT leadership, plant management, and engineering teams to align infrastructure initiatives with business priorities.
Support budgeting, procurement, and asset lifecycle management for infrastructure hardware and software.
8–12 years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure, with at least 3 years in a people management role.
Proven track record leading infrastructure teams in complex, multi-site or manufacturing environments.
Hands-on background in systems engineering (Linux/Windows server administration) and/or network engineering.
Strong working knowledge of Linux server administration (RHEL/Rocky), virtualization platforms (Proxmox, VMware, or Hyper-V), and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
Solid understanding of enterprise networking: routing, switching, VLANs, firewalling, VPNs, and network segmentation.
Experience with cloud infrastructure, particularly AWS (EC2, RDS, VPC, IAM, security groups).
Familiarity with infrastructure automation and monitoring tools (Ansible, Terraform, Zabbix, Prometheus/Grafana).

Nice-to-haves

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field required. Advanced degree a plus.
Experience managing infrastructure in mixed IT/OT environments is strongly preferred.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

dockerkubernetesaws

Platform: workday
Effort: long

Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Professional Development