Launch Engineer Exterior Systems

Alten Technology USA; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA is seeking an Exterior Launch Engineer to coordinate readiness for exterior components on new vehicle programs in Louisville. You will work across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and plant teams to ensure parts and processes are ready for builds and production milestones.

The role emphasizes structured problem-solving, DFMEA/Control Plan familiarity, and close collaboration with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, federal contracting environment.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting automotive launch, manufacturing readiness, or vehicle build events.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to issue investigation and closure.
• Working knowledge of DFMEA and Control Plan development or review.
• Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and suppliers under program timing constraints.
• Strong communication, organization, and issue-tracking skills.
• Willingness to support on-site launch activities in Louisville, Kentucky, as needed.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate exterior-systems launch activities from pre-production builds through production ramp-up.
• Track open issues, milestones, risks, owners, and closure dates; communicate status to program stakeholders.
• Lead structured problem-solving for fit, function, appearance, quality, and manufacturing issues.
• Support vehicle builds, plant trials, launch reviews, containment activities, and escalation processes.
• Review and help maintain DFMEAs, Control Plans, and related quality and launch-readiness deliverables.
• Verify that corrective actions are implemented and effective; document evidence and escalated risks.
• Coordinate supplier and plant support, including part availability, inspection, rework, and process readiness.
• Support alignment between engineering intent, manufacturing requirements, and build/production feedback.

Skills

Automotive launch experience

DFMEA / Control Plan knowledge

Cross-functional coordination

Problem-solving

Communications & organization

On-site launch readiness (Louisville)

Tools

APQP

PPAP

MSA

SPC

Job description

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.

As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

Summary

• The Exterior Systems Launch Engineer will coordinate launch readiness and issue resolution for exterior components and systems on new vehicle programs.
• The role works across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, quality, and plant teams to help ensure parts and processes are ready for builds and production milestones.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate exterior-systems launch activities from pre-production builds through production ramp-up.
• Track open issues, milestones, risks, owners, and closure dates; communicate status to program stakeholders.
• Lead structured problem-solving for fit, function, appearance, quality, and manufacturing issues.
• Support vehicle builds, plant trials, launch reviews, containment activities, and escalation processes.
• Review and help maintain DFMEAs, Control Plans, and related quality and launch-readiness deliverables.
• Verify that corrective actions are implemented and effective; document evidence and escalated risks.
• Coordinate supplier and plant support, including part availability, inspection, rework, and process readiness.
• Support alignment between engineering intent, manufacturing requirements, and build/production feedback.

Required Qualifications

• Experience supporting automotive launch, manufacturing readiness, or vehicle build events.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to issue investigation and closure.
• Working knowledge of DFMEA and Control Plan development or review.
• Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and suppliers under program timing constraints.
• Strong communication, organization, and issue-tracking skills.
• Willingness to support on-site launch activities in Louisville, Kentucky, as needed.

Additional Relevant Skills

• Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, supplier quality, process validation, and production-readiness reviews.
• Experience using structured root-cause and corrective-action methods, such as 8D or equivalent.
• Knowledge of MSA, SPC, inspection planning, containment, and quality-gate processes.
• Experience with build tracking, issue-management systems, launch dashboards, and milestone reporting.
• Familiarity with exterior fit-and-finish, gap-and-flush, appearance quality, and assembly concerns.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.

Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.

As set forth in ALTEN Technology USA’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.