New Model Program Engineer

Actalent; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Plan – pre-tax

Life Insurance

Disability

HSA

Transportation benefits

PTO

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a New Model Program Engineer to lead automotive and powertrain launch programs from planning through to launch. The role requires coordinating cross-functional teams, managing budgets and schedules, and ensuring quality and timeliness across all launch phases.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's in Engineering, 4+ years using MS Office tools, and hands-on experience with powertrain or vehicle manufacturing and program management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• 4+ years of experience with Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project).
• 2+ years of structured problem solving with root-cause analysis.
• At least 1 year in powertrain or vehicle operations manufacturing, design, or program management.

Responsibilities

• Lead program management activities for new vehicle and powertrain launches across all phases.
• Plan, manage, and deliver new vehicle programs within budgets and timelines.
• Coordinate pre-production build events and ensure quality standards.
• Oversee pre-production vehicles, ensuring traceability and program compliance.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations to resolve issues.
• Monitor launch readiness, quality performance, and overall program health.
• Identify risks early and drive corrective actions to minimize impact.
• Support launch meetings with prepared materials and action tracking.
• Prepare data and updates for budget approvals related to launch activities.
• Deliver weekly status reports on progress, risks, and metrics.
• Drive continuous improvement in launch and manufacturing processes.
• Troubleshoot on the manufacturing floor during pre-production and early production.
• Support change management for new models, including process and design changes.
• Maintain stakeholder communication on objectives and milestones.
• Spend time on the production floor to gather updates and communicate with teams.

Skills

MS Office

Problem solving

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Powertrain experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Job Title: New Model Program EngineerJob Description

The New Model Program Engineer plays a critical role in the successful launch of new vehicle and powertrain models. This position manages and delivers new vehicle programs from early planning through launch, ensuring quality, timing, and budget targets are met. The engineer coordinates launch activities across multiple phases, supports pre-production build events, and partners with cross-functional teams to resolve issues quickly and maintain transparent communication on status and risks.

Responsibilities

• Lead program management activities for new vehicle and powertrain model launches, ensuring successful execution across all phases of the launch lifecycle.
• Plan, manage, and deliver new vehicle programs in alignment with established budgets, timing, and quality targets.
• Coordinate and oversee pre-production build events, ensuring that vehicles are built efficiently and meet required quality standards.
• Manage the ordering, building, testing, and disposition of pre-production vehicles, ensuring traceability and compliance with program requirements.
• Actively manage launch processes by collaborating with diverse skill teams, including engineering, manufacturing, quality, and operations.
• Monitor and assess launch readiness, including resolution status, quality performance, and overall program health.
• Identify launch risks early, communicate them clearly, and drive corrective actions to minimize impact on timing, cost, and quality.
• Support and help lead launch meetings, including preparation of materials, tracking of action items, and follow-up on commitments.
• Support budget approval processes by preparing data, justifications, and updates related to launch activities and pre-production builds.
• Prepare and deliver weekly reports that provide clear, concise status updates on launch progress, risks, and key metrics.
• Drive process improvement and continuous improvement initiatives related to launch and manufacturing processes.
• Work closely with manufacturing engineering and operations teams to troubleshoot issues arising during pre-production and early production builds.
• Support change management activities associated with new models, including process changes, design updates, and manufacturing adjustments.
• Maintain strong communication with stakeholders at all levels to ensure alignment on launch objectives, milestones, and deliverables.
• Spend time on the manufacturing floor as needed to gather updates, observe processes, and communicate directly with production teams.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• 4+ years of experience using Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Project.
• 2+ years of experience in structured problem solving, including identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• At least 1 year of experience in powertrain or vehicle operations manufacturing, design, and/or program management with project or launch experience.
• Experience in manufacturing engineering, with exposure to automotive manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on project management experience supporting complex technical or manufacturing projects.
• Experience in process improvement and troubleshooting within a manufacturing or production setting.
• Familiarity with launch support activities in automotive or similar high-volume manufacturing.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities while maintaining focus on timing, budget, and quality objectives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for preparing reports and providing clear status updates.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional and diverse skill teams.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment and adapting to changing priorities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Program management experience, particularly in automotive or manufacturing environments, is preferred.
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies and manufacturing process optimization.
• Exposure to change management practices related to new product introductions or process changes.
• Familiarity with vehicle launch processes, including pre-production builds and launch readiness assessments.
• Ability to interpret and use data from manufacturing and quality systems to drive decisions.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when managing multiple launch activities.
• Interest in long-term career growth within a large, world-class automotive manufacturing organization.

Work Environment

This role is based in a fast-paced automotive assembly environment within a large, world-class manufacturing facility. The position requires regular presence on the production floor to gather updates, observe operations, and communicate directly with manufacturing and engineering teams. The facility spans approximately 70 acres, so the role involves a significant amount of walking between different areas and departments. Work is highly dynamic, with frequent interaction across cross-functional teams and a strong focus on meeting launch deadlines, quality standards, and budget targets.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Louisville, KY.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $38.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Louisville,KY.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 31, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.