North America Automotive Program Manager

PennEngineering®; Danboro (PA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & 401K

Medical/Dental/Vision

Parental Leave

Tech provided equipment

Employee‑centric culture

Job summary

PennEngineering is seeking a Program Manager – Automotive, North America to lead automotive fastener programs from RFQ through Start of Production and beyond. You will manage multi‑stakeholder programs, chair gate reviews, and ensure on‑time delivery within budgets.

The role requires cross‑functional collaboration across PEM North America and travel up to 30%. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in production, engineering or PM roles in automotive, with IATF 16949/APQP experience and a strong grasp

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in production, engineering or project management.
• Experience managing automotive programs at a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier.
• Demonstrated experience carrying a minimum of two programs from RFQ through Start of Production.
• Working knowledge of IATF 16949 and APQP, including PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA and Gauge R&R, PSW and PPAP submission levels.
• Familiarity with customer‑specific requirements, OEM portals, and IMDS or equivalent material reporting.
• Understanding of fastener manufacturing processes and related applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop plans that meet the objectives of each program.
• Manage relationships with internal departments, stakeholders and customers.
• Monitor program progress and adjust work to meet deadlines.
• Chair gate reviews and maintain the master launch timeline.
• Coordinate cross‑functional activities across Commercial, Engineering and Supply Chain.
• Lead cross‑functional program teams and define exit criteria at each gate.
• Maintain program risk registers and communicate status to stakeholders.
• Ensure program documentation is up to date and archived for future reference.
• Support new business opportunities by delivering parts on time and within budget.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Automotive programs

APQP

IATF 16949

Gate reviews

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Project Management or similar

Job description

Position Summary

PennEngineering is a leader in the manufacturing of specialty fasteners and is committed to providing quality, value-added products and services. The Program Manager – Automotive, North America is responsible for planning, overseeing and leading automotive fastener programs from customer RFQ through Start of Production and post-launch handover. This position is a primary role within PEM North America and requires a multi-skilled, highly capable person who will interact with a range of stakeholders, internal departments and external customers, and will manage several programs simultaneously.

Position Summary

PennEngineering is a leader in the manufacturing of specialty fasteners and is committed to providing quality, value-added products and services. The Program Manager – Automotive, North America is responsible for planning, overseeing and leading automotive fastener programs from customer RFQ through Start of Production and post-launch handover. This position is a primary role within PEM North America and requires a multi-skilled, highly capable person who will interact with a range of stakeholders, internal departments and external customers, and will manage several programs simultaneously. The Program Manager is responsible for creating and managing the plan that will meet the objectives of each program while adhering to an agreed budget and timeline. The role is the single point of accountability for assigned programs and operates against the Master Automotive Fastener Launch Timeline, a fourteen-gate structure (G0 through G13) aligned to APQP and customer-specific requirements. Duties include defining program scope, securing the necessary resources, anticipating time and financial requirements, chairing gate reviews, communicating to all stakeholders and controlling program documentation.

Join us as we build the future in Manufacturing and Engineering!

Perks And Benefits

• PTO, holiday pay, 401K, tuition reimbursement
• Medical, Dental and vision insurance
• Parental Leave
• Company provided technology including Laptop, necessary monitors and hardware for office and home environments, iPhone, etc.
• Employee Centric Culture

What You Will Do

• Develop plans that will meet the objectives of each program
• Manage relationships with all internal departments, stakeholders, external parties and customers
• Manage program progress, adjusting work when required to ensure programs meet their deadlines
• Monitor and report on program progress. Measure and analyze programs to ensure they are developing as planned
• Coordinate internal program activities and resources across Commercial, Engineering, Manufacturing, Tooling, Quality, Supply Chain and Logistics
• Assemble and lead cross-functional program teams, holding functional owners accountable for the deliverables and exit criteria assigned to them at each gate
• Maintain the master launch timeline for each assigned program, expressed in weeks relative to SOP, and keep it aligned to customer build and PPAP dates
• Chair formal gate reviews and exercise the authority to approve, conditionally approve or hold a gate based on documented exit criteria
• Escalate gate holds, schedule risk and resource conflicts promptly and at the appropriate level
• Conduct program reviews and create detailed and summary program reports
• Oversee and ensure all program documentation is up to date and archived for future reference, providing a history that can be revisited when planning similar programs, including quote assumptions, timing plans, gate records and PPAP files
• Communicate clearly and regularly on program updates and progress with all stakeholders, external parties and customers
• Understand program risks and design contingency plans, so each program continues moving forward even when obstructions occur; own and maintain the program risk register
• Implement, optimize and improve program management procedures, including the launch gate process itself
• Help secure new business and growth opportunities by delivering new parts on time and within budget
• Initiate new projects that will improve and optimize in-house processes

Location

Danboro, PA

Requirements

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management or similar field / equivalent tangible experience
• Minimum five years of experience in a production, engineering or project management role, including at least three years managing automotive programs at a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier
• Demonstrated experience carrying a minimum of two programs from RFQ through Start of Production
• Working knowledge of IATF 16949 and APQP, including PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA and Gauge R&R, capability studies, PSW and PPAP submission levels
• Familiarity with customer‑specific requirements, OEM and Tier supplier portals, and IMDS or equivalent material reporting
• Understanding of cold‑formed fastener manufacturing — heading, thread rolling and forming, secondary operations, heat treat and plating or coating — sufficient to challenge feasibility, capacity and capability inputs
• Understanding of fastener application engineering, including torque, clamp load, joint design and installation
• Familiarity with automotive logistics requirements, including packaging and labeling specifications, EDI and ASN, and release management
• Teamwork and ability to work cross‑functionally
• Ability to gain alignment from stakeholders and lead across functional and geographic boundaries
• Solid leadership and information gathering skills
• Strong problem‑solving skills
• Analytical skills, ability to interpret and communicate data accurately
• Commercial awareness and customer focus
• Quality and efficiency focused
• Experience of dealing with customers, including customer‑facing program reviews and on‑site build support
• International business and travel experience
• Ability to travel up to 30%

Preferred

• PMP or equivalent project management certification
• Formal AIAG or VDA core tools training
• Experience across multiple OEM/Tier customer requirement sets
• Experience with BEV, HEV and ICE fastener applications

PennEngineering is committed to Diversity, Equity and Belonging, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We lift up voices and opinions by creating a respectful work environment where difference is valued, and we are doing our part to build towards a greater society where diverse points of view are celebrated.