Project Manager

CIEL HR; Pune District; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Job summary

CIEL HR in Pune seeks an experienced Program Manager to drive automotive product launches from RFQ to SOP, coordinating cross-functional teams and ensuring compliance with IATF 16949 standards.

You will manage master timelines, tooling budgets, and the customer interface with major OEMs, aiming for on-time delivery, zero delays, and capacity expansion when required.

Strong leadership and risk mitigation skills are essential to align with quality KPIs and cost targets across programs.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's in mechanical/production engineering; Masters preferred.
• Experience: 10+ years in automotive project/program management.
• Domain: knowledge of sheet metal stamping, die design, and welding technologies.
• Standards: proficiency in IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, and core OEM launch portals.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and monitor projects from RFQ to SOP and handover to operations.
• Develop and manage master timing plans for entire projects.
• Lead APQP processes and Gateways through EwQIMS portal.
• Oversee tooling and equipment launch, dies, and welding fixtures.
• Coordinate stamping, process, engineering, quality, tooling, purchasing, logistics, and production.
• Monitor program profitability and budget allocations.
• Act as primary contact for OEM engineers and buyers regarding status.
• Identify bottlenecks early to prevent launch delays.
• Oversee engineering changes and expansion projects per OEM requirements.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

APQP & PPAP management

Tooling & equipment launch

Budget monitoring

Customer interface

Risk mitigation

Quality standards (IATF 16949)

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/production engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

EwQIMS portal

IATF 16949

VDA 6.3

Job description

he Program Manager responsible primary to execute product launches from RFQ to Serial Production (SOP). Lead CFT and primary contact for Customers.

This role ensures projects meet strict automotive standards (IATF 16949), APQP milestones, tooling budgets, and delivery timelines for major OEMs.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Management:Plan, Execute, Control and Monitoring of project from RFQ till SOP + Handover to Operations.
• Timeline Control:Develop and manage master timing plans for entire projects.
• APQP & PPAP Management:Lead the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process Gate ways closure in EwQIMS portal.
• Tooling & Equipment Launch:Oversee the design, manufacturing, and buy-off of stamping dies (progressive/transfer) and welding fixtures (robotic/manual).
• Cross-Functional Leadership:Coordinate Stamping, Process, Engineering, quality, tooling, purchasing, Logistic and production departments.
• Financial Management:Monitor program profitability, budget allocations, and ECNs
• Customer Interface:Act as the primary point of contact for OEM engineers and buyers regarding launch status.
• Risk Mitigation:Identify technical or capacity bottlenecks early to prevent launch delays.
• Engineering Changes executions and implementations.
• Work on expansion projects, like capacity expansion as per OEM requirement.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Launch & Time Performance

• Milestone Adherence Rate:100% on-time completion of APQP gateways and customer-specific milestones.
• PPAP Approval Timeline:Zero days delay in securing Customer PPAP approval vs. the agreed target date.
• SOP Readiness:100% readiness for Start of Production with zero customer delivery disruptions.

Financial & Cost Control

• Tooling Budget Variance:Keep tooling development costs (stamping dies and welding jigs) within 2% of budgeted Capex.
• ECR Recovery Rate:Percentage of customer-driven engineering changes successfully billed back to the OEM.

Quality & Technical Performance

• First-Time-Right (FTR) PPAP:Rate of PPAP submissions accepted on the first attempt without re-work.
• Run-at-Rate (OEE) Target:Achieving the targeted Overall Equipment Effectiveness and cycle times during production trials.

Customers Satisfaction

• Green Rating in Customer communications Survey

Qualifications & Skills

• Education:Bachelors degree in mechanical/ production engineering. Masters Preferred.
• Experience:10+ years in automotive project/program management.
• Domain Expertise:Preferred candidate having deep knowledge of sheet metal stamping processes, die design, and welding technologies (spot, MIG/MAG, projection).
• Standards:Proficient in IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, and core OEM launch portals.