Automotive Program Lead - APQP & Cross-Functional Delivery

BWI Chassis Dynamics (NA) Inc.; Moraine (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

BWI North America, Inc. seeks a Program Manager to lead customer programs for suspension or brakes from quote through launch and into production. You will serve as the primary interface between the customer and BWI's cross-functional team to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.

You will drive program timing, budgets and deliverables, coordinating engineering, quality, manufacturing, purchasing, logistics, finance and sales to meet customer requirements and APQP/PPAP milestones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of program management, project management or product engineering experience in the automotive industry, preferably with a Tier 1 supplier or OEM.
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP and IATF 16949 requirements.
• Proven ability to manage timing, budgets and multiple programs at the same time.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project (or a similar scheduling tool) and Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned programs through all APQP phases, from RFQ and program award through prototype, validation, PPAP, launch and run-at-rate, ensuring each gate's deliverables are met.
• Serve as the primary customer interface for program status, timing, engineering changes, quality concerns and commercial issues.
• Develop and maintain the master program timing plan; track milestones, identify risks early and drive recovery plans when programs fall behind.
• Lead regular cross-functional program team meetings and hold team members accountable for open actions and deliverables.
• Manage program budgets, including capital, tooling, prototype and engineering spend; track actuals against plan and report variances.
• Support new business quoting with Sales and Estimating, including RFQ responses, cost inputs, timing proposals and business case reviews.
• Manage the engineering change process: evaluate cost, timing and quality impacts, obtain customer approvals and secure commercial recovery where applicable.
• Coordinate prototype builds, design validation and production validation testing, and PPAP submissions with Engineering and Quality.
• Partner with Purchasing and Supplier Quality to ensure supplier tooling, timing and PPAP readiness support program milestones.
• Prepare and present program reviews for BWI leadership and customers, covering status, risks, financials and key performance indicators.
• Ensure program documentation and processes comply with IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements.
• Support production launch at manufacturing sites, manage the handoff to plant operations, and capture lessons learned for future programs.
• Collaborate with global BWI engineering, manufacturing and program teams on shared or multi-region programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Program management

APQP/PPAP/IATF16949

Cross-functional leadership

MS Project

Budget & cost control

Customer interface

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Project

ERP systems

PLM systems

Job description

BWI North America, Inc. seeks a Program Manager to lead customer programs for suspension or brakes from quote through launch and into production. You will serve as the primary interface between the customer and BWI's cross-functional team to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.

You will drive program timing, budgets and deliverables, coordinating engineering, quality, manufacturing, purchasing, logistics, finance and sales to meet customer requirements and APQP/PPAP milestones.