Launch Manager, Cell Factory Expansion

Our Next Energy; Michigan; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Our Next Energy is seeking a Launch Manager to lead the cell factory expansion, coordinating equipment, facilities, utilities, and process validation to meet aggressive ramp targets.

This role requires deep manufacturing program management experience, strong cross-functional leadership, and the ability to drive risks, schedules, and budgets across teams and suppliers.

You will report to senior leadership and help build a repeatable launch playbook for future cell programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering field is required; advanced degree is a plus.
• 8+ years in manufacturing engineering, industrialization, or program management.
• Led at least 2 production line or factory launches from spec to ramp.
• Battery, automotive or high-volume manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of automated manufacturing equipment and processes.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, IQ/OQ/PQ.
• Understanding of OEE, yield, Cpk, MTBF/MTTR metrics.
• Proven ability to lead through influence across functions and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Own the integrated launch plan for cell factory expansion covering equipment, facilities, and utilities.
• Define and run the launch gate process with readiness criteria and go/no-go decisions.
• Own the launch budget and capital plan with tracking and change control.
• Drive critical path across suppliers and internal teams; mitigate risks early.
• Partner on equipment specs, FAT/SAT, and acceptance criteria (rate, yield, MTBF).
• Coordinate process development elements to ensure readiness before milestones.
• Work with Facilities and EHS on layout, permits, and safety reviews.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and HR on staffing and training plans.
• Own ramp post-SAT and track OEE, yield, scrap, and bottlenecks daily.
• Lead structured problem solving for launch-critical issues and root causes.
• Capture lessons learned and build a reusable launch playbook.
• Support defense/aerospace programs with launch status and audits as needed.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Program management

Launch planning

Risk identification

Communication to executives

Vendor/supplier coordination

Industrialization knowledge

Project scheduling tools

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical/ Chemical/ Electrical or Manufacturing Engineering (related field)

Master’s degree or MBA (plus)

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Job description

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following our Accessibility Accomodation for Applicants page.

Launch Manager, Cell Factory Expansion

• Posted on November 12, 2026

Locations

Showing 1 location

42060 Ecorse Rd
Belleville, MI 48111, USA

• On-site
• Manager
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: LAUNC001456

Description

This role requires a technical program manager who can go deep on equipment and process issues while keeping the whole program moving. The ideal candidate has led multiple production line or factory launches and leads through influence, aligning Cell Industrialization, Cell Process Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Facilities, Controls/MES, EHS, Supply Chain, Finance, and equipment suppliers around a single plan and clear priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the integrated launch plan for cell factory expansion, covering equipment, facilities and utilities, dry room, controls/MES, process validation, staffing and training, materials, and production ramp.
• Define and run the launch gate process, including readiness criteria, gate reviews, and go/no-go decisions, and report status, risks, and decisions to executive leadership.
• Own the launch budget and capital plan, tracking committed and actual spend, forecasting, and change control together with Finance and Supply Chain.
• Drive the critical path across equipment suppliers and internal teams; identify schedule and technical risks early and lead mitigation and recovery plans.
• Partner with Cell Industrialization on equipment specifications, supplier selection, FAT, installation, and SAT, making sure acceptance criteria include rate, yield, Cpk, uptime, and reliability and maintainability (MTBF/MTTR).
• Partner with Cell Process Development to make sure process specifications, transfer packages, PFMEAs, and control plans are ready ahead of each launch milestone, and that process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) is complete.
• Coordinate with Facilities and EHS on layout, construction, utilities, dry room readiness, permits, and safety reviews.
• Work with Manufacturing and HR on staffing plans, operator and maintenance training, SOPs, critical spares, and preventive maintenance readiness before handover.
• Own the ramp plan after SAT, tracking OEE, yield, scrap, MTBF, and MTTR by station, leading daily ramp reviews, and driving bottlenecks and open items to closure.
• Lead structured technical problem solving for launch-critical issues, pulling in the right experts and making sure root causes are fixed rather than worked around.
• Capture lessons learned and build a standard launch playbook, templates, and readiness checklists for future expansions and new cell programs.
• Support customer programs, including defense and aerospace programs, with launch status, capacity readiness, audits, and documentation as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering field. Master’s degree or MBA is a plus.
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, industrialization, or program management in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Led at least 2 production line or factory launches, from equipment specification or construction through ramp to rate.
• Lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing experience strongly preferred; automotive, semiconductor, or other high-volume, highly automated manufacturing experience will also be considered.
• Strong technical understanding of automated manufacturing equipment and processes, with the ability to engage directly on equipment, process, and SAT issues.
• Demonstrated ability to own a program schedule and budget, including capital projects, critical-path management, and change control.
• Experience with launch and quality frameworks such as APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, and IQ/OQ/PQ.
• Working knowledge of equipment and production performance metrics, including OEE, yield, Cpk, MTBF, and MTTR.
• Proven ability to lead through influence across functions and with suppliers, without direct authority.
• Proficiency with project scheduling tools such as MS Project or Smartsheet; PMP certification is a plus.
• Experience with IATF 16949, AS9100, or similar quality systems; experience supporting defense or aerospace customers is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting status, risks, and recommendations to executives.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND EEO:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

An individual must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Our Next Energy Inc. (ONE) is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to disability or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.