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 ARE WE LOOKING FOR Slate is looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer to define and lead the technical strategy for our next-generation ecommerce platform. We’re building a direct-to-consumer EV brand from the ground up, and this role will own the systems that connect customers to their Slate, from discovering and customizing their vehicle to purchasing accessories and managing their ownership journey. You’ll architect and evolve the platform that powers our digital storefront, spanning product discovery, vehicle configuration, checkout, payments, order management, and fulfillment. This is a high-impact role where your technical decisions will shape the customer experience and directly influence the future of Slate. You thrive in environments where the path is not always defined. You enjoy solving complex problems, making thoughtful decisions with incomplete information, and balancing speed with long-term technical excellence. At Slate, there is no distance between what you build and the impact it creates - your work will help define how customers experience an entirely new automotive brand. WHAT YOU LL GET TO DO You lead the definition, design, architecture, implementation, and delivery of Slate software. You code and test system components, leading code and design reviews. You own end-to-end code quality, system tests, functional tests, and integration. You relentlessly simplify, demonstrating significant innovation, creativity, and judgement when solving challenging problems. You collaborate with UX and product teams to build and invent new solutions and applications that put customers first. You are considered an authority on technical issues by the technical and business community and are frequently consulted for making difficult trade-off decisions. You drive awareness about the impact and consequences of technical decisions on the business, balancing technical leadership with strong business judgment to make the right long-term decisions about technology choices. You assist in the career development of others, actively mentoring individuals and the community on advanced technical issues and helping managers guide the career growth of their team members. WHAT YOU LL BRING TO THE TEAM 12 years of professional software development experience, with deep expertise building and operating scalable, customer-facing software systems. Strong technical leadership experience, including defining architecture, making complex technical trade-offs, and driving engineering decisions across teams. Experience designing and building reliable, scalable distributed systems, including web services, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and modern software development practices. Proven ability to lead through ambiguity, simplify complex problems, and deliver high-quality solutions in fast-paced environments. Experience with modern ecommerce architectures, including headless or composable commerce patterns and integrations across product catalog (PIM), cart/checkout, payments, order management (OMS), and fulfillment systems. Experience integrating third-party platforms and SaaS products through APIs, events, and webhooks to create seamless customer experiences. Familiarity with marketplace or multi-vendor commerce models and the technical challenges they introduce. Experience building high-performance customer experiences, including frontend performance optimization, Core Web Vitals, and conversion-focused engineering. SALARY RANGE The compensation for this position is the range Slate reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including job-related knowledge; skillset; experience, education and training; certifications; work location; and other relevant business and organizational factors. Base Pay Range (Annual) 155,854.00 - 233,781.00 USD Annual Additional Compensation and Benefits: Slate offers a wide range of competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, vacation, and 401k. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in the equity program and/or a discretionary annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing such programs. 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

You lead the definition, design, architecture, implementation, and delivery of Slate software.
You code and test system components, leading code and design reviews.
You own end-to-end code quality, system tests, functional tests, and integration.
You relentlessly simplify, demonstrating significant innovation, creativity, and judgement when solving challenging problems.
You collaborate with UX and product teams to build and invent new solutions and applications that put customers first.
You are considered an authority on technical issues by the technical and business community and are frequently consulted for making difficult trade-off decisions.
You drive awareness about the impact and consequences of technical decisions on the business, balancing technical leadership with strong business judgment to make the right long-term decisions about technology choices.
You assist in the career development of others, actively mentoring individuals and the community on advanced technical issues and helping managers guide the career growth of their team members.
12 years of professional software development experience, with deep expertise building and operating scalable, customer-facing software systems.
Strong technical leadership experience, including defining architecture, making complex technical trade-offs, and driving engineering decisions across teams.
Experience designing and building reliable, scalable distributed systems, including web services, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and modern software development practices.
Proven ability to lead through ambiguity, simplify complex problems, and deliver high-quality solutions in fast-paced environments.
Experience with modern ecommerce architectures, including headless or composable commerce patterns and integrations across product catalog (PIM), cart/checkout, payments, order management (OMS), and fulfillment systems.
Experience integrating third-party platforms and SaaS products through APIs, events, and webhooks to create seamless customer experiences.
Familiarity with marketplace or multi-vendor commerce models and the technical challenges they introduce.
Experience building high-performance customer experiences, including frontend performance optimization, Core Web Vitals, and conversion-focused engineering.
155,854.00 - 233,781.00 USD Annual
WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?
Safety First
Delight Customers
Relentless Improvement
Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
Respectful Collaboration
Positive Legacy

Nice-to-haves

None flagged.

Application prep

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

Platform: workday
Effort: long

Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Dental

Vision

401k