Autonomous Vehicle Operations Lead

About the role

This position is for an Autonomous Vehicle Operations Lead who will run the day-to-day functioning of autonomous vehicle and robotaxi fleets. The role supports testing initiatives, commercial autonomous ride-hailing services, and the opening of new city operations across Europe.

As the senior operational contact at the depot, you will guide Safety Operators, Depot Specialists, Senior Technicians, and SDS Specialists so that vehicles stay safe, ready for service, and prepared for deployment. The role is central to keeping fleet availability high, meeting operational targets, and enabling successful launch and growth of autonomous vehicle programs.

The company is seeking someone with a background in fleet operations, mobility services, automotive operations, logistics, or transportation, and who is comfortable leading teams in a fast-moving, technology-focused setting.

Key responsibilities

• Direct daily operations for autonomous vehicle and robotaxi fleets across one or more depot sites.
• Keep vehicles prepared for testing, commercial rollout, and autonomous ride-hailing service.
• Track fleet usage, vehicle availability, charging plans, and operational readiness.
• Coordinate vehicle departures and returns each day to improve fleet efficiency.
• Reduce vehicle downtime through careful planning and strong coordination.
• Oversee depot activity to keep operations safe, efficient, and well organized.
• Manage the day-to-day work of Depot Specialists, Safety Operators, Senior Technicians, and SDS Specialists.
• Make sure vehicles meet cleaning, charging, inspection, and maintenance standards before they go out.
• Support depot establishment and operational preparation for new city launches and fleet growth projects.
• Recruit, train, onboard, and supervise operational staff.
• Build shift schedules that support 24/7 operations.
• Carry out performance reviews and coaching conversations.
• Foster a workplace culture focused on safety, ownership, and ongoing improvement.
• Ensure team members follow standard procedures and safety rules.
• Serve as the main operational point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Work closely with engineering, product, technical, and fleet management teams on daily activities.
• Prepare operational reports, KPI dashboards, and performance summaries.
• Identify operational risks early and put mitigation plans in place.
• Support customer visits, audits, and operational review meetings.
• Track key indicators such as fleet availability, vehicle uptime, dispatch efficiency, depot productivity, and operational quality.
• Spot process improvements that lower downtime and strengthen fleet performance.
• Develop and roll out standard operating procedures for autonomous vehicle operations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement during robotaxi scaling and commercial deployment.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, local laws, and operating procedures.
• Promote a strong safety mindset across all operational teams.
• Ensure incidents are investigated, documented, and resolved properly.
• Maintain health and safety compliance across fleet and depot operations.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in fleet operations, automotive operations, transportation, logistics, mobility services, or a comparable operational setting.
• Prior experience leading operational teams or technical teams.
• Experience managing shift-based work or 24/7 operations.
• Strong leadership and people-management capability.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills.
• Background in monitoring KPIs and operational performance.
• Strong communication skills and stakeholder management ability.
• Fluent English is required.
• Helpful experience includes autonomous vehicles, robotaxi fleets, ADAS programs, or automotive testing.
• Experience with EV fleet operations is preferred.
• Previous involvement in opening new sites or depots is an advantage.
• Knowledge of fleet management systems and reporting tools is useful.
• Additional European languages may be beneficial depending on the project location.

What we are looking for

Successful candidates will combine strong operational discipline with confident leadership and an interest in new mobility technologies. The role requires the ability to coordinate people, vehicles, depots, and processes while maintaining high standards of safety, efficiency, and customer experience.

You should be comfortable working in changing environments and solving operational problems as autonomous fleets expand into new cities and markets. Whether the work supports pilot programs or fully commercial robotaxi services, this position helps ensure that every vehicle, shift, and team member contributes to a dependable autonomous mobility operation.

What we offer

• Responsibility for large-scale autonomous vehicle and robotaxi fleet operations across Europe.
• Hands-on exposure to advanced self-driving vehicle technology and commercial autonomous ride-hailing services.
• A leadership role involved in new city launches, depot setup, and fleet expansion.
• Close collaboration with engineering, product, and operations teams working on the future of autonomous transport.
• Long-term career growth in fleet management, autonomous mobility, and robotaxi operations.
• International project experience supporting leading autonomous vehicle programs.
• Structured onboarding and ongoing professional development.

Additional information

The hiring process may involve artificial intelligence tools to help review applications, screen resumes, assess responses, and flag possible inconsistencies or verification signals using the information provided. These tools support the recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are made by people. If you want more details about how your information is processed, you may contact the employer.