GA Production Team Lead (First Shift)

Harbinger Motors Inc.
Garden Grove, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have hands-on production experience in automotive or EV assembly and prior supervisory or team lead roles.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on assembly line experience and a history of managing teams in OEM or Tier-1 supplier environments
    — “Proven experience working at an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or a Tier-1 supplier.”
  • Individuals who can bridge operational execution with strategic team development and continuous improvement
    — “Champion the mindset that the production line is a living system requiring constant awareness, iteration, and effort to improve over time.”
  • People with a demonstrated ability to lead and coach teams in high-performance manufacturing settings
    — “Demonstrated ability to direct, train, and evaluate assembly or engineering teams.”

Things to consider

  • The role requires physical presence in Garden Grove, CA for zonal operations and team leadership
    — “Serving as the primary point of contact for your dedicated zone”
  • Candidates must be prepared to step into operational roles when needed, not just lead
    — “Step in to support as a build operator when resource availability requires it.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight specific instances of team coaching and performance improvement in your resume and interviews
    — “Mentorship & Development: Support the Supervisor in identifying training needs and provide coaching to drive the professional growth and skill development of each team member.”
  • Demonstrate your ability to align team goals with company objectives through clear communication and feedback
    — “Team Leadership: Direct daily activities, provide clear goals (SQDC), and deliver regular feedback to team members to ensure alignment with company objectives as communicated by leadership.”
  • Showcase your understanding of production fundamentals like Takt time and waste elimination in your application materials
    — “Production Fundamentals: Master and apply core production concepts, including Takt time, operator and equipment cycle time, downtime tracking, waste elimination, and safety/quality escalation protocols.”
  • Emphasize your experience with 5S and safety standards in a production zone setting
    — “Lead 5-minute start-of-shift huddles covering output, goals, safety issues, and 5S.”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Achieving operational goals
  • Fostering a collaborative environment
Typical background
Experience in automotive industryProven leadership skills

Skills & requirements

Required

Team LeadershipResource AllocationPerformance Monitoring

Preferred

MentorshipContinuous Improvement Culture

Stack & domain

Team LeadershipResource AllocationMentorshipPerformance MonitoringCommunicationTakt TimeOperator And Equipment Cycle TimeDowntime TrackingWaste EliminationSafety/quality Escalation ProtocolsProblem-solvingDecision-makingInterpersonal And Communication SkillsElectric Vehicle ProductionAssembly Line Management

About the role

Original posting from Harbinger Motors Inc. via Greenhouse

About Harbinger

Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to bring a first-of-its-kind EV platform to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs and Hybrids. Harbinger: Familiar Form, Revolutionary Foundation.

As a Harbinger Team Lead, you will guide a team toward achieving operational goals while fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment. Serving as the primary point of contact for your dedicated zone, you will provide the hands-on support necessary to ensure all zonal targets are met successfully.

What You'll Do:

Team Leadership: Direct daily activities, provide clear goals (SQDC), and deliver regular feedback to team members to ensure alignment with company objectives as communicated by leadership.

Resource Allocation: Oversee zonal staffing, ensure proper headcount at each workstation, and escalate any gaps to the Supervisor. Step in to support as a build operator when resource availability requires it.

Mentorship & Development: Support the Supervisor in identifying training needs and provide coaching to drive the professional growth and skill development of each team member.

Performance Monitoring: Track team performance against key metrics and implement strategies for continuous improvement.

Communication: Act as a liaison between the team and management, ensuring transparent communication regarding your zone's progress, challenges, and achievements.

Continuous Improvement Culture: Champion the mindset that the production line is a living system requiring constant awareness, iteration, and effort to improve over time.

Production Fundamentals: Master and apply core production concepts, including Takt time, operator and equipment cycle time, downtime tracking, waste elimination, and safety/quality escalation protocols.

Zonal Operations:

Lead 5-minute start-of-shift huddles covering output, goals, safety issues, and 5S.

Respond to and immediately escalate issues to the Supervisor based on criticality.

Maintain 5S and Safety at the highest possible standard within your zone and the wider General Assembly area.

Who You Are:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Automotive Background: Proven experience working at an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or a Tier-1 supplier.

Hands-on Production: Direct experience working with shop-floor operations, assembly lines, and supplier management.

People Management: Demonstrated ability to direct, train, and evaluate assembly or engineering teams.

Supervisory Experience: Prior experience managing a team or leading complex projects from concept to production release.

Core Skills: Strong problem-solving capabilities, sound decision-making skills, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

2+ years of experience in a relevant field (General Assembly / EV experience highly preferred).

1+ years of proven leadership, team lead, or supervisory experience.

Strong understanding of vehicle assembly with the agility to learn and train operations teams across multiple build stations and cells.

A documented track record of strong performance and positive peer feedback.

Key Benefits & Perks:

Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision (HDV) – 100% employee covered

Early-stage Stock Options

Robust Retirement Savings (401k, HSA, FSA)

Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) & Parental Leave

Annual Vacation Bonus

Wellness & Fertility Benefits

Cell Phone Stipend

Complimentary Meals & Stocked Kitchens

California Pay Range$31—$34 USDEqual Opportunity

Harbinger is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Harbinger is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at info@harbingermotors.com.

Candidate Data Privacy

Harbinger may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Harbinger may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Harbinger may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our HR, legal, and finance teams, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Harbinger affiliates; and (iii) Harbinger’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Harbinger may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services. Any unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles submitted in response to our job posting shall be considered the property of Harbinger and are not subject to payment of referral or placement fees if any such candidate is later hired by Harbinger unless you have a signed written agreement in place with us which covers the applicable job posting.

Source: Harbinger Motors Inc. careers (Greenhouse)

Similar roles