Design Quality Lead BCIM

Stellantis NV; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle lease program

Comprehensive health & well-being care

401(k) retirement plans

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Stellantis NV in Auburn, Alabama seeks a Design Quality Lead (DQL) for BCIM to drive design quality from concept through launch. You will lead APQP/PPAP readiness, manage risk, and align cross‑functional teams across engineering, suppliers, and program management to meet customer and program targets.

This role requires strong leadership, knowledge of APQP/PPAP processes, data‑driven quality improvements, and the ability to communicate status to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience.
• Strong working knowledge of APQP and PPAP processes, deliverables, and timing.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional meetings involving Engineering, SQE, Purchasing, Program Management, and Suppliers.
• Proven capability to present complex quality topics clearly to technical teams and senior leadership.
• Experience driving alignment across departments and ensuring follow‑through on action plans.
• Ability to analyze quality data, identify gaps, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Skilled in preparing and delivering structured updates, risk summaries, and readiness assessments.

Responsibilities

• Begin involvement 4 weeks before PM or upon A3Q release from CX.
• Lead quality convergence toward NA BCIM targets for Months in Service and CPV.
• Conduct Gap-to-Target assessments and identify risks requiring engineering or leadership action.
• Collaborate with Engineering and TECH teams to define enablers needed to close quality gaps.
• Train engineering teams on applying Quality Targets during the RFQ process.
• Ensure all design‑related checkpoints are Green or Orange with action plans, including Design Assessment, Risk Management Plan, and Lessons Learned review.
• Prepare and deliver bi‑weekly project reviews with the Director and senior leadership materials.
• Attend weekly PMT meetings and participate in APQP readiness activities.
• Monitor APQP and PPAP progress; initiate APQP kickoff meetings with DRE, SQE, and suppliers.
• Provide weekly APQP status reports to the Project CVE and conduct weekly APQP grid audits.
• Initiate escalation notifications and lead escalation meetings to resolve roadblocks.
• Deliver introductory APQP/PPAP training and host regular AUROS/PLM Q&A workshops.

Skills

APQP/PPAP

Cross-functional leadership

Quality target convergence

Risk management

PLM systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

PLM dashboards

Quality reporting tools

Job description

The Design Quality Lead (DQL) for BCIM is responsible for driving design quality excellence from early concept through launch. This role ensures alignment to quality targets, leads APQP/PPAP readiness, manages risk, and provides cross‑functional leadership to engineering, suppliers, and program teams. The DQL Project Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring robust design execution, early issue identification, and quality convergence to meet customer and business expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

Early Engagement & Quality Target Convergence:

• Begin involvement4 weeks before PMor uponA3Q release from CX.

• Leadquality convergencetoward NA BCIM targets forMonths in ServiceandCPV.

• ConductGap-to-Target assessmentsand identify risks requiring engineering or leadership action.

• Collaborate with Engineering and TECH teams to defineenablersneeded to close quality gaps.

• Train engineering teams on applyingQuality Targetsduring the RFQ process.

Design Quality Process Initiation & Governance:

Ensure all design-related checkpoints areGreen or Orange with action plans, including:

• Design Assessment

• Risk Management Plan

• Lessons Learned (Check Retex) review

Project Review & Leadership Communication:

• Prepare and deliverbi‑weekly project reviewswith the Director.

• Develop and present materials forsenior leadership reviews.

• Attend weeklyPMT meetingsand other cross-functional sessions as needed.

• Participate inpart readiness meetingsand provide design-quality input related to APQP.

APQP / PPAP Monitoring & Execution:

• Monitor APQP and PPAP progress across assigned components and suppliers.

• InitiateAPQP kickoff meetingswith DRE, SQE, and suppliers.

• Support and help leadtechnical review meetingsto ensure TECH teams and DQLs understand APQP expectations and cadence.

• Provideweekly APQP status reportsto the Project CVE.

• Conductweekly APQP grid auditsand elevate issues when necessary.

Level 1 Escalation Management:

• Initiate escalation notifications to theProject LeadandQuality Project Specialist; maintain the escalation report.

• Lead escalation meetings withBuyer, SQE, Supplier, DRE, SSTM, and SSTLas needed to resolve roadblocks.

Training & Capability Building:

• Deliverintroductory APQP/PPAP training sessionsfor engineering and supplier teams.

• Hostbi‑weekly APQP Process and AUROS/PLM Q&A workshopsfor DREs, SSTMs, SSTLs, SQEs, suppliers, and extended functional teams.

• Provide1:1 AUROS/PLM trainingfor DREs to ensure proper system usage and documentation quality.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field.

• Minimum of 5 years of work experience.

• Strong working knowledge ofAPQP and PPAPprocesses, deliverables, and timing.

• Demonstrated ability tolead cross‑functional meetingsinvolving Engineering, SQE, Purchasing, Program Management, and Suppliers.

• Proven capability topresent complex quality topics clearly and confidentlyto both technical teams and senior leadership.

• Experience driving alignment across departments and ensuring follow‑through on action plans.

• Ability to analyze quality data, identify gaps, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

• Skilled in preparing and delivering structured updates, risk summaries, and readiness assessments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience serving as aquality lead, APQP champion, or design quality representativein a product development environment.

• Prior responsibility forfacilitating technical reviews, escalation meetings, or leadership‑level presentations.

• Strong understanding ofinterdepartmental workflowsacross Engineering, SQE, Purchasing, Manufacturing, and Program teams.

• Experience coaching or training teams on APQP/PPAP, PLM systems, or quality processes.

• Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across global or distributed teams.

• Proficiency with PLM systems, APQP dashboards, and quality reporting tools.

• Experience preparing and presenting content for senior leadership or executive‑level reviews.

Our Benefits — Designed with You in Mind

Comprehensive Health & Well-being CoverageFrom your very first day, you'll have access to medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage — ensuring you and your family stay healthy and protected.

Generous Paid Time Off
We believe in work-life balance. That's why we offer: 17+ paid holidays, including shut-down from December 24th through New Years Day every year. Vacation, float & wellbeing days, sick time and fully paid parental leave when your family needs you most.

Competitive Retirement Savings Plans
We help you plan for the future with:

• An employer match on contributions to your 401k, Roth, and Catch-Up plans
• An employer contribution, even if you don't contribute

Income Protection & Insurance Options
Benefit from included and optional disability, life, and other insurance programs — because your peace of mind matters.

Company Vehicle Lease Program
Eligible employees and their immediate families can enjoy company vehicle lease options with included insurance, maintenance, and unlimited mileage. Plus, take advantage of exclusive discounts on Stellantis products.

Family Building Benefit
We proudly support all paths to parenthood- including fertility and infertility treatments, adoption services, and gestational surrogacy.

Support for Your Growth and Giving Back
We believe in investing in your future and your passions:

• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan refinancing programs
• 18 paid volunteer hours each year to make a difference in your community

And so much more!
When you join us, you're not just building a career — you're joining a company that supports you, inside and outside of work.