Manufacturing Program Engineer

Optimal; Avon Lake (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Optimal is seeking a New Model Program Engineer to lead the launch of vehicle programs in North America. The role manages cross-functional teams, coordinates pre-production builds, and ensures adherence to budgets and schedules.

Responsibilities include issue resolution, governance, fleet planning, and senior-level communication. Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor's degree with 4+ years of Word/Excel/PowerPoint and Microsoft Project experience, plus 1+ year in Powertrain/Vehicle

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 4+ years of experience with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Project.
• 2+ years solving problems with statistical mindsets.
• 1+ year of Powertrain/Vehicle Operations manufacturing, design, or program management, with PM/launch experience.

Responsibilities

• Program Governance: gatekeeper for New Model Programs and ensure process adherence.
• Pre-Production Build Management: oversee pre-production build activities for quality and efficiency.
• Vehicle Fleet Management: manage ordering, building, testing and disposition of pre-production vehicles; conduct fleet evaluations.
• Design Change Oversight: approve Product Development changes prior to prototype builds.
• Issue Resolution Leadership: lead cross-functional issue resolution and timely closure.
• Meeting Coordination & Issue Driving: co-chair launch meetings and drive part-support issue resolution.
• Budget Execution: manage launch budget approvals and controlled elements.
• Reporting & Assessment: prepare weekly New Model Program status reports highlighting risks.
• Senior Management Communication: present program status and proposed solutions to executives.
• Team Integration Support: facilitate smooth integration of launch teams into plants.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional collaboration

Issue resolution

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Microsoft Project

Statistical problem solving

Launch experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Word

Excel

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.

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.

Skills Required:

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

Experience Required:

Bachelor's degree

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.

Education Required:

Bachelor's Degree