Manufacturing Program Engineer

Optimal; Allen Park (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Optimal in the United States is seeking a New Model Program Engineer to drive launch excellence for new vehicle and powertrain programs in North America manufacturing plants. You will manage governance, pre-production builds, fleet management, design changes, and issue resolution to ensure on-time delivery.

Key focus includes coordinating cross-functional teams, delivering weekly status reports, and communicating risks to senior management.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project.
• 2+ years solving problems with statistical mindsets.
• 1+ years in Powertrain/Vehicle Operations manufacturing or program management.

Responsibilities

• Lead launch governance and ensure adherence to processes across the lifecycle.
• Manage pre-production build events and ensure quality objectives.
• Oversee vehicle fleet management and testing of pre-production vehicles.
• Drive issue resolution and track risks in weekly program reports.
• Coordinate meetings and drive part support issue resolution.
• Prepare senior management updates and present program status.
• Support team integration and travel as needed.

Skills

Program Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Project

Job description

Position Description:

The New Model Program Engineer plays a critical role in the successful launch of new vehicle and powertrain models within North America manufacturing plants. This position is responsible for the overall program management and delivery of new vehicle programs, ensuring successful execution across various phases including issue resolution, quality and status assessments, vehicle fleet management, and adherence to established budgets and timing.

What you'll do:

This individual contributor role is essential for driving launch excellence for new vehicle and powertrain models across OEM's North America Manufacturing Plants. The Engineer will contribute to success by actively managing and executing critical launch processes, collaborating with diverse skill teams, and ensuring timely communication on launch status and risks.

Program Governance: Serve as a key gatekeeper for New Model Programs, ensuring adherence to established processes and standards throughout the launch lifecycle.

Pre-Production Build Management: Manage and oversee all activities related to pre-production build events, ensuring they meet program objectives for quality and efficiency.

Vehicle Fleet Management: Manage the ordering, building, testing, and ultimate disposition of pre-production vehicles. This includes the execution of the Pre-Production Drive Fleet Evaluation Plan.

Design Change Oversight: Manage the approval process for Product Development changes, ensuring these are integrated and proven out ahead of prototype builds.

Issue Resolution Leadership: Lead the build issues management process for the cross-functional program team, driving issues to resolution and ensuring timely closure of problems that could impact launch.

Meeting Coordination & Issue Driving: Co-chair relevant launch meetings and proactively drive resolution of part support issues for each pre-production build event.

Budget Execution: Manage launch budget approval processes and execute elements specifically controlled by New Model Programs within the overall launch budget.

Reporting & Assessment: Prepare and present comprehensive New Model Program weekly assessment reports, providing clear status updates and highlighting potential risks.

Senior Management Communication: Champion senior management presentations, effectively communicating program status, challenges, and proposed solutions.

Team Integration Support: Facilitate the smooth transition and integration of launch teams into the manufacturing plants. Ability to travel is a must.

Skills Required:

Program Management - expecation is to maintain a list of issues and work with a cross functional team to resolve them.

Experience Required:

4+ years of experience in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Project.

2+ years of experience with problem solving disciplines using statistical mindsets

1+ years of experience in Powertrain/Vehicle Operations manufacturing, design, and/or program management, with Project management or launch experience.

Experience Preferred:

Program management experience.

Manufacturing experience.

Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

Demonstrated ability to be detail-oriented and highly organized.

Experience demonstrating a strong understanding of the processes and methodologies involved in bringing new vehicle models from development into full-scale production.

Experience with Engineering Change Management and Issue Management

Education Required:

Bachelor's Degree

Additional Information :

***FULLY ONSITE***