Program Manager (Tooling and Automation)

Windsor Machine Group; Windsor; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental care

Life insurance

Mileage reimbursement

On-site parking

Paid time off

RRSP match

Vision care

Job summary

Windsor Machine Group is seeking a Program Manager – Tooling & Automation to oversee end-to-end tooling and automation programs from quotation to installation and corporate acceptance. You will lead cross-functional teams across design, controls, manufacturing, and suppliers in a fast-paced environment, ensuring on-time delivery and profitability.

The role requires strong technical and commercial awareness, with 7+ years in tooling/automation and experience managing projects from $50k to $5M+.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in tooling, automation, manufacturing engineering, machine build, and project/program management.
• Experience managing tooling and automation projects valued between $50,000 and $5M+.
• Automotive experience preferred, with APQP/PPAP and launch management knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead tooling and automation projects from award through final corporate acceptance with detailed timing plans and resource plans.
• Coordinate activities across Tool Design, Controls Engineering, Tool Build, CNC/EDM, Electrical & Integration, Purchasing, Quality, and Manufacturing Operations.
• Identify risks, develop mitigation plans, and drive issue resolution and accountability.
• Serve as primary corporate contact for assigned programs and provide status updates to leadership.
• Coordinate engineering changes while protecting scope, timing and profitability.
• Coordinate build activities for weld fixtures, assembly equipment, automation cells, robotics, and production tooling through design to installation.
• Support machine commissioning, corporate runoffs, and capture lessons learned for future programs.
• Track budgets and costs; support quoting, statements of work, and E-C change recovery.
• Review supplier quotations; support make-vs-buy decisions and outsourcing evaluations.
• Manage supplier deliverables, timing, and performance; conduct status reviews and recovery planning.
• Coordinate equipment installation, startup, corporate acceptance/buyoff, and production launch readiness.

Skills

Tooling experience

Automation knowledge

Project management

Manufacturing engineering

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial/Automation Engineering

Job description

Position Summary

TheProgram Manager – Tooling & Automation is responsible for managing the complete lifecycle of tooling and automation programs, from quotation through installation and corporate acceptance, ensuring programs are delivered on time, within budget, and to corporate requirements. This role serves as the primary interface between corporate, engineering, controls, manufacturing, tool build, suppliers, and management, owning execution, schedules, risk management, issue resolution, and communication throughout the project lifecycle. The successful candidate will possess strong technical and commercial awareness and be capable of coordinating cross-functional teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead tooling and automation projects from award through final corporate acceptance, maintaining detailed timing plans, milestone tracking, and resource plans.
• Coordinate project activities across Tool Design, Controls Engineering, Tool Build, CNC/EDM, Electrical & Integration, Purchasing, Quality, and Manufacturing Operations.
• Identify project risks, develop mitigation plans, and drive accountability and resolution of open issues, escalating concerns as required.
• Serve as primary corporate contact for assigned programs: lead program and timing reviews and provide regular status updates to corporate leadership.
• Coordinate engineering change requests and scope modifications while protecting project scope, timing, and profitability.
• Coordinate build activities for weld fixtures, assembly equipment, automation cells, robotics, EOL testers, gauges, foam molds, and production tooling through design, fabrication, controls integration, tryout, buyoff, and installation.
• Support machine commissioning, corporate runoffs, and capture lessons learned for future programs.
• Track project budgets, actual costs, and profitability; support quoting, statements of work, and engineering-change commercial recovery.
• Review supplier quotations and outsourced work packages; support make-versus-buy decisions and outsourcing evaluations.
• Manage supplier deliverables, timing, and performance; conduct supplier status reviews and recovery planning as needed.
• Coordinate equipment installation, startup, corporate acceptance/buyoff, and production launch readiness.
• Travel as required to corporate, supplier, and WMG facilities across Canada, USA, and Mexico.

Knowledge And Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Automation Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in tooling, automation, manufacturing engineering, machine build, and project/program management.
• Experience managing tooling and automation projects valued between $50,000 and $5M+.
• Strong understanding of tool build processes, CNC machining, assembly equipment, robotics, industrial automation, and manufacturing systems.
• Automotive experience preferred, along with experience in APQP, PPAP, and launch management.
• Knowledge of tooling design/manufacturing processes and experience with machine commissioning and controls integration is an asset; PMP certification considered an asset.

Pay: $80,000.00-$105,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Work Location: In person