Program Manager

Job Title: Program Manager

Reports to: Engineering Manager

FLSA Status: EXEMPT

Schedule: Monday – Friday; extended hours may be required to support business needs

Primary duties and responsibilities:

The Program Manager is responsible for leading new and existing customer programs from quotation through launch and into stable production for a Tier 1 sheet metal fabrication environment serving automotive and Defense customers. This role owns timing, cost, scope, and customer communication, and ensures that all APQP/PPAP requirements are met while coordinating cross-functional teams in engineering, quality, operations, and purchasing.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

Program Management & Launch

• Lead programs from award through SOP, managing scope, schedule, and budget.
• Develop and maintain detailed program timelines, open issues lists, and action trackers.
• Coordinate tooling, fixtures, equipment, and process readiness for new or changed parts.
• Drive safe-launch / containment plans and ensure smooth handoff to production.

APQP / PPAP & Quality Planning

• Lead APQP activities in line with AIAG guidelines for all assigned programs.
• Coordinate PFMEA, control plans, process flow diagrams, and work instructions with engineering and quality teams.
• Ensure timely completion of PPAP submissions (samples, dimensional results, capability studies, PSW, etc.).
• Support run-at-rate / production trials and resolve issues prior to SOP.

Customer Interface

• Act as primary point of contact for assigned customers on all program-related topics.
• Host regular customer review meetings, provide status updates, and manage expectations.
• Manage engineering changes (ECNs/ECRs), including timing, cost impact, and implementation plans.
• Support commercial discussions related to tooling, piece price changes, and scope changes.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Align engineering, quality, production, maintenance, logistics, and purchasing on program objectives and deliverables.
• Escalate resource constraints and roadblocks and drive resolution with functional managers.
• Coordinate DFM feedback to customers to optimize manufacturability and cost.

Risk, Cost & Performance Management

• Identify program risks and maintain a risk and mitigation register.
• Track program budget vs. plan (tooling, capital, and major launch costs).
• Monitor key launch metrics (timing adherence, quality issues, scrap/rework during launch) and drive corrective actions.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of project/program management experience in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 automotive manufacturing environment, preferably sheet metal fabrication, welding, or metal assemblies.
• Strong CAD and print-reading skills, including understanding of GD&T per ASME Y14.5
• Hands-on experience with APQP and PPAP processes and AIAG core tools (FMEA, Control Plan, MSA, SPC).
• Strong understanding of automotive OEM requirements and customer-specific requirements.
• Experience launching new parts/processes in a manufacturing plant (tooling, fixtures, process development, trials).
• Solid proficiency with basic Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and project tracking in at least one structured format (e.g., Gantt charts, action logs).
• Excellent communication skills—able to communicate effectively with customers and internal teams at all levels.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and follow-through skills; able to manage multiple programs concurrently.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience with sheet metal fabrication processes (laser cutting, stamping, forming, welding, assembly, coating/painting).
• Formal training or certification in Project Management (PMP, Prince2, or similar).
• Advanced Office Suite skills, especially:
  • Excel (pivot tables, lookups, basic dashboards)
  • PowerPoint (customer-facing status reports)
  • MS Project or similar timeline / Gantt tools
• Experience with PLM and/or ERP/MES systems for managing BOMs, revisions, workflows, and approvals.
• Demonstrated experience using structured project management methodologies, especially Waterfall-based project planning:
  • Building and maintaining phase-gate project plans
  • Managing critical path, dependencies, and milestones
  • Reporting progress against baseline and driving recovery plans when off-track
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 quality systems.

Physical environment/working conditions: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be expected to go between and office and manufacturing environment daily.  All applicable PPE is required while walking the manufacturing floor.

Other (e.g., customer contact or access to confidential information):

Must be able to work as part of a team.  Must maintain confidentiality when working on assignments.