What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supply Chain Engineering Project Manager position at Air Lift Company?
Supply Chain Engineering Project Manager
Air Lift, a third-generation family-owned company, was founded in 1949 in Lansing, Michigan. Air Lift supplies the automotive aftermarket with load assist products and performance suspensions for show and track. Our goal is to consistently provide products and services that meet and exceed customers’ requirements and expectations. We do this by recruiting top talent and retaining them through our commitment to professional development and preservation of our culture.
Job Summary
The Supply Chain Engineering Project Manager is a hands-on technical and project execution role responsible for driving assigned Supply Chain and supplier-quality projects from definition through implementation and verified closure, with primary focus on the existing product base.
This position serves as a technical resource across Supply Chain, Purchasing, Quality, Engineering, Supplier Development, Materials, Operations, and the supply base. The role ensures technical requirements are clearly defined, required information is available, risks and gaps are identified early, and actions are driven to completion.
What you'll do:
Project & Program Execution
- Own assigned Supply Chain technical projects and workstreams from definition through implementation and verified closure.
- Develop and manage project timing, milestones, action registers, risks, dependencies, and deliverables.
- Drive cross-functional actions to completion and escalate issues when timing, technical requirements, supplier performance, or resources put project objectives at risk.
- Use PDCA and other structured problem-solving methods to establish recovery plans and maintain project timing.
Technical Support
- Provide technical support for existing products, components, suppliers, and manufacturing processes.
- Support engineering changes, supplier changes, component changes, process changes, validation activities, and production cut-ins.
- Work with Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Materials, Operations, and suppliers to resolve technical issues affecting cost, quality, delivery, or supply continuity.
- Translate engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, materials, and technical requirements into clear supplier-executable requirements.
- Serve as a technical resource to Purchasing when buyers require engineering, manufacturing, or quality support in supplier discussions.
- Help suppliers understand drawings, specifications, tolerances, materials, process requirements, validation requirements, and product expectations.
- Support supplier feasibility reviews and technical assessments.
New Supplier Development
- Partner with the Supplier Development Manager on new supplier development and qualification.
- Provide technical and quality support for supplier capability assessments, process reviews, APQP/PPAP readiness, validation, and production readiness.
- Support identification and closure of technical or quality gaps that could prevent successful supplier qualification or launch.
- Work directly with new suppliers to ensure Air Lift technical requirements, drawings, specifications, quality expectations, and manufacturing requirements are clearly understood.
What you'll bring:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, or a related technical field preferred; equivalent practical manufacturing and technical experience may be considered.
- Five or more years of experience in manufacturing, supplier engineering, supplier quality, technical project management, or a related Supply Chain environment.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and technical requirements.
- Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, process capability, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and supplier-quality processes.
- Strong project-management and structured problem-solving skills, including PDCA, 8D, or similar methodologies.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, supplier capability, and production readiness.
- Experience working directly with suppliers and cross-functional manufacturing teams.
- Experience with domestic and international suppliers, preferred.
- Experience with metals, rubber, injection molding, machining, castings, or other relevant manufacturing processes, preferred.
What we offer:
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
- Generous 401(k) with up to 8% company matching
- A supportive and inclusive company culture that prioritizes work/life balance
- Professional development to help grow your career
- Paid time off and paid holidays