Unethical life hack to get more juicy Slate details before January

[kvermeer]

An unsolicited email notification popped up on my watch that just showed "Slate Auto is hiring", I was excited for something new from Slate until I read the byline.... ugh, more LinkedIn spam:

On the other hand, it's not an entirely terrible idea.. I've got all the qualifications to apply to several of those engineering roles, a couple are right in my wheelhouse with transferable skills from projects at Subaru/Toyota/Ford, and it looks like a significant pay raise over my current role.

It would just mean selling (maybe?) my almost-paid-off-house and moving my 4th grader 140 miles away from all his friends and cousins and grandparents to Warsaw. I know my wife doesn't want to move to Warsaw. Hell, *I* don't want to move to Warsaw - I've done work at RV manufacturers in Goshen/Elkhart/Syracuse, and I've learned Indiana is not a destination I aspire to live in. A 140 mile commute is infeasible, there's no good transit from here to there, much of my role would not be feasible for any remote work, I don't even want to commute down to Warsaw Monday and back on Friday, I'd need a new EV or hybrid with better ADAS than Slate to make that commute work... Strike that, it would be an entirely terrible idea. I don't think it would be right for me to apply.

10 years from now, or 10 years ago, it would have been a great time to jump at that opportunity, just not now.

Also, the job offer probably includes an NDA that would prevent me from sharing all those juicy sneak peaks with you wonderful people!

But you know that even the hiring interview would include a plant walkthrough. Maybe I could even get an early production unit as an employee? Tempting....

What do you think? Would you take a job at Slate?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/slateauto/jobs/

 

[Doctors Do Little]

An unsolicited email notification popped up on my watch that just showed "Slate Auto is hiring", I was excited for something new from Slate until I read the byline.... ugh, more LinkedIn spam:

On the other hand, it's not an entirely terrible idea.. I've got all the qualifications to apply to several of those engineering roles, a couple are right in my wheelhouse with transferable skills from projects at Subaru/Toyota/Ford, and it looks like a significant pay raise over my current role.

It would just mean selling (maybe?) my almost-paid-off-house and moving my 4th grader 140 miles away from all his friends and cousins and grandparents to Warsaw. I know my wife doesn't want to move to Warsaw. Hell, *I* don't want to move to Warsaw - I've done work at RV manufacturers in Goshen/Elkhart/Syracuse, and I've learned Indiana is not a destination I aspire to live in. A 140 mile commute is infeasible, there's no good transit from here to there, much of my role would not be feasible for any remote work, I don't even want to commute down to Warsaw Monday and back on Friday, I'd need a new EV or hybrid with better ADAS than Slate to make that commute work... Strike that, it would be an entirely terrible idea. I don't think it would be right for me to apply.

10 years from now, or 10 years ago, it would have been a great time to jump at that opportunity, just not now.

Also, the job offer probably includes an NDA that would prevent me from sharing all those juicy sneak peaks with you wonderful people!

But you know that even the hiring interview would include a plant walkthrough. Maybe I could even get an early production unit as an employee? Tempting....

What do you think? Would you take a job at Slate?

https://www.linkedin.com/company/slateauto/jobs/

You are an incredible tease!

 

[tubes]

Just read a the job openings first. There's some interesting things you can extrapolate from them.

 

[kvermeer]

Just read a the job openings first. There's some interesting things you can extrapolate from them.

No doubt. I love seeing the emphasis on lean six sigma and greenfield development, too many automotive projects I've worked on are held back by ancient legacy systems.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

No doubt. I love seeing the emphasis on lean six sigma and greenfield development, too many automotive projects I've worked on are held back by ancient legacy systems.

I thought LEAN/SS was ubiquitous now? Plenty of Toyota disciples/alumni around.

 

[sodamo]

Too far to commute, but I am totally unemployable. 😄

 

[kvermeer]

I thought LEAN/SS was ubiquitous now? Plenty of Toyota disciples/alumni around.

Every auto manufacturer and tier 1/2/3 supplier I've been in wants the benefits, few are willing to accept the organizational changes required to thoroughly implement it. "Lean 6s except for these practices because we've always done it that way" is not the same.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Every auto manufacturer and tier 1/2/3 supplier I've been in wants the benefits, few are willing to accept the organizational changes required to thoroughly implement it. "Lean 6s except for these practices because we've always done it that way" is not the same.

I used to train LEAN in hospital systems. They could not even spell Six Sigma, though!

 

[Johnologue]

I've definitely looked at Slate's job openings a few times, and there's interesting info there, and definitely more for people who know the industry. It feels a bit "wrong" (sort of intrusive, rude, and potentially trust-damaging) to read stuff just for information about the company, so I don't do it often (and with some sincere attempt to check for relevant positions to start with). I wouldn't judge anyone else for keeping an eye on the listings, I just feel a bit weird about it personally.

I've also found researching Re:Build Manufacturing can give some degree of behind-the-scenes insight for Slate. They're more openly advertising their work now, but before there was a bunch of secretive stuff about "Re:Car" (now known as Slate Auto).

 

[tubes]

I've definitely looked at Slate's job openings a few times, and there's interesting info there, and definitely more for people who know the industry. It feels a bit "wrong" (sort of intrusive, rude, and potentially trust-damaging) to read stuff just for information about the company, so I don't do it often (and with some sincere attempt to check for relevant positions to start with). I wouldn't judge anyone else for keeping an eye on the listings, I just feel a bit weird about it personally.

I've also found researching Re:Build Manufacturing can give some degree of behind-the-scenes insight for Slate. They're more openly advertising their work now, but before there was a bunch of secretive stuff about "Re:Car" (now known as Slate Auto).

I know what you mean. It does feel weird. But there's nothing illegal about it. It is a lot like people who go to open house events at a neighbor down the block. I always thought that was an odd idea.

I ended up scanning many of the openings from the perspective of "If I came out of retirement, could I get a job at Slate?" The answer: no. My skills are too rusty, and my skills in diagnostics were purely electronic. Slate is looking for at least a little mechanical competence.