Program Manager

Autokiniton; New Boston (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AUTOKINITON is seeking a seasoned Program Manager to lead automotive launches, coordinate cross-functional teams, and ensure adherence to ALP processes and customer requirements. You will drive timing, BOM development, and cost management across multiple programs, while collaborating with manufacturing, engineering, quality, and purchasing to meet milestones.

The ideal candidate brings strong budgeting, APQP/PPAP experience, and a proven ability to lead across organization levels, with travel to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field required. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in automotive manufacturing, including stamping, metal forming, assemblies, tooling, or manufacturing processes.
• Minimum three (3) years of program management, project management or launch management in an automotive manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting or leading new product launches from award through production.
• Experience working with OEM customers and cross-functional teams preferred.
• Strong understanding of program budgeting, cost management, and financial tracking.
• Comprehensive knowledge of automotive build and launch processes, with ability to develop, implement, and maintain standardized procedures.
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, engineering change management and launch executive requirements.
• Travel to manufacturing facilities during key project and launch phases to support timely communication, coordinate activities, and facilitate prompt resolution of issues.
• Understanding of GD&T, product design, and manufacturing principles.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead cross functional teams and build effective working relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Customer-focused mindset with strong issue resolution and conflict management skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the resolution of open program issues, ensuring timely responses, containment actions, and follow-up activities.
• Facilitate ALP Gate Reviews and provide program updates to leadership teams.
• Identify and support cost-saving opportunities throughout the program lifecycle while maintaining quality and timing objectives.
• Lead regular program review meetings to track timing, engineering changes, BOM development, and critical-path activities.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, and Commercial teams to ensure program requirements are understood and executed effectively.
• Monitor program financial performance, including budget adherence, tooling expenditures, and customer milestone achievement.
• Utilize ALP, Campfire, and other program management systems to maintain accurate program documentation and status reporting.
• Support continuous improvement efforts by documenting and sharing lessons learned to improve future program execution.
• Coordinate engineering change activities to ensure customer requirements are communicated, implemented on schedule, and managed within budget.
• Track and drive completion of APQP deliverables, PPAP submissions, and tooling payment milestones to support successful program launches.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure effective communication and program execution.
• Support departmental and organizational initiatives that promote operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

Skills

Program management

Budgeting

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

AUTOKINITON delivers operational excellence, high-quality execution, and customer service. We offer 100% vertical integration capabilities such as end-to-end engineering, manufacturing, and in-house logistics.

We’re proud of our Tier 1 supplier legacy for manufacturing propulsion-agnostic, structural automotive components, and assemblies around the globe.

Support the successful launch of new business by ensuring compliance with the AUTOKINITON Launch Process (ALP), customer requirements, and program timing expectations.

• Coordinate the resolution of open program issues, ensuring timely responses, containment actions, and follow-up activities.
• Facilitate ALP Gate Reviews and provide program updates to leadership teams.
• Identify and support cost-saving opportunities throughout the program lifecycle while maintaining quality and timing objectives.
• Lead regular program review meetings to track timing, engineering changes, bill of material (BOM) development, and critical-path activities.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, and Commercial teams to ensure program requirements are understood and executed effectively.
• Monitor program financial performance, including budget adherence, tooling expenditures, and customer milestone achievement.
• Utilize ALP, Campfire, and other program management systems to maintain accurate program documentation and status reporting.
• Support continuous improvement efforts by documenting and sharing lessons learned to improve future program execution.
• Coordinate engineering change activities to ensure customer requirements are communicated, implemented on schedule, and managed within budget.
• Track and drive completion of APQP deliverables, PPAP submissions, and tooling payment milestones to support successful program launches.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure effective communication and program execution.
• Support departmental and organizational initiatives that promote operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

This salary role is a part of our Corporate Program Management team and reports to the Director, Program Management.

Required experience:

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) in Engineering or a related field preferred. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in automotive manufacturing, including stamping, metal forming, assemblies, tooling, or manufacturing processes.
• Minimum three (3) years of program management, project management or launch management in an automotive manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting or leading new product launches from award through production.
• Experience working with OEM customers and cross-functional teams preferred.
• Strong understanding of program budgeting, cost management, and financial tracking.
• Comprehensive knowledge of automotive build and launch processes, with the ability to develop, implement, and maintain standardized procedures.
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, engineering change management and launch executive requirements.
• Travel to manufacturing facilities during key project and launch phases to support timely communication, coordinate activities, and facilitate the prompt resolution of issues.
• Understanding of GD&T, product design, and manufacturing principles.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead cross functional teams and build effective working relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Customer-focused mindset with strong issue resolution and conflict management skills.