Manufacturing Pilot Programs Lead

Socket.dev; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Yanfeng is seeking a Project Manager, Pilot Programs to lead manufacturing pilot initiatives from planning to production readiness. The role coordinates operations, engineering, quality, maintenance, supply chain, purchasing, and production to ensure validation of new products and processes prior to full-scale launches.

The ideal candidate will drive schedules, budgets, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives while minimizing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 5–9 years of experience in automotive manufacturing or related.
• Experience leading pilot programs or new product launches.
• Knowledge of Lean, APQP, PFMEA and continuous improvement.
• Proficient with project management tools and reporting systems.
• PMP certification preferred.
• Strong leadership, organization, and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel and work at customer sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end execution of manufacturing pilot programs from planning through launch.
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Production.
• Identify risks, mitigate plans, and resolve issues impacting objectives.
• Monitor pilot performance metrics and validate process capability, productivity, quality, and safety.
• Facilitate meetings, status updates, and executive reviews.
• Ensure adherence to specs, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement and capture lessons learned.
• Support equipment installation, process validation, training, and readiness for pilots.
• Maintain project documentation and communication plans.
• Manage change control and stakeholder alignment.
• Coordinate transition from pilot to full-scale production.

Skills

Pilot program leadership

Lean Manufacturing

APQP PFMEA

Project management tools

Leadership & communication

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

PMP certification

Job description

Yanfeng is seeking a Project Manager, Pilot Programs to lead manufacturing pilot initiatives from planning to production readiness. The role coordinates operations, engineering, quality, maintenance, supply chain, purchasing, and production to ensure validation of new products and processes prior to full-scale launches.

The ideal candidate will drive schedules, budgets, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives while minimizing