Program Manager

Tata Consultancy Services; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Annual Incentive

Comprehensive Medical Coverage

Family Support: Parental Leaves

Auto & Home Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Certification & Training Reimbursement

Vacation, Time Off, Holidays

Legal & Financial Assistance: 401K, &

Job summary

Tata Consultancy Services in Novi, MI is seeking a Program Manager to lead automotive development programs from concept through production. You will coordinate cross-functional teams across engineering, validation, manufacturing, and supply chain to ensure milestones are met on time and within budget.

The role emphasizes DVP planning, BOM management, release processes, and collaboration with OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers. Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and reporting skills are required.

Qualifications

• Strong Program Management experience in Automotive Product Development programs.
• Experience managing end-to-end vehicle development programs from concept through production.
• Good understanding of mechanical product development lifecycle, engineering design, CAE validation loops, release management, and production readiness.
• Experience in program planning, scheduling, critical path management, and milestone tracking.
• Knowledge of Design Verification Plan (DVP) planning, execution tracking, and issue management.
• Understanding component release processes, BOM management, engineering change management, and supplier development activities.
• Experience working with OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Ability to track product cost, tooling investment, and program budgets against targets.
• Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and release management systems.
• Strong risk management, issue resolution, and escalation management capabilities.
• Experience coordinating design, validation, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management, customer communication, and executive reporting skills.
• Proficiency in project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or similar planning tools.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, DFM, DFMEA, and automotive development best practices.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall program management activities for a Automotive development program.
• Develop and maintain an integrated program plan encompassing engineering development, Styling surface development, CAE iterations, release milestones, supplier selection, tooling lead times, and build events.
• Track program deliverables, milestones, dependencies, risks, and critical path activities to ensure timely execution.
• Drive cross-functional program reviews and provide regular status reporting to leadership.
• Monitor unit cost and tooling investments against targets and highlight deviations with mitigation plans.
• Coordinate component release planning and execution across all engineering workstreams.
• Lead DVP planning, schedule tracking, issue management, and readiness reviews.
• Manage technical interactions with suppliers and drive resolution of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) concerns.
• Coordinate with engineering, validation, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and release management teams to ensure program alignment.
• Establish and manage risk registers, issue logs, action trackers, and escalation mechanisms.
• Ensure all engineering deliverables are completed in accordance with program timing and quality expectations.
• Track gateway readiness and support successful completion of program milestones.
• Facilitate decision-making by providing program insights, metrics, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Drive change management activities and assess the impact of engineering, supplier, or schedule changes on overall program objectives.
• Maintain effective communication between suppliers, OEM stakeholders, and internal engineering teams.
• Ensure adherence to program governance processes, reporting standards, and customer expectations.

Skills

Program Management

Automotive Product Development

End-to-end Vehicle Development

Scheduling & Critical Path

DVP Planning & Issue Tracking

BOM & Change Management

OEMs & Tier-1 Collaboration

Cost Tracking & Budgets

PLM Familiarity

Risk Management

Cross-functional Leadership

Executive Reporting

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering (EE) or Automotive Engineering (ME)

Tools

Microsoft Project

Smartsheet

Jira

Job description

• Strong Program Management experience in Automotive Product Development programs
• Experience managing end-to-end vehicle development programs from concept through production
• Good understanding of mechanical product development lifecycle, engineering design, CAE validation loops, release management, and production readiness
• Experience in program planning, scheduling, critical path management, and milestone tracking
• Knowledge of Design Verification Plan (DVP) planning, execution tracking, and issue management
• Understanding component release processes, BOM management, engineering change management, and supplier development activities
• Experience working with OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and cross-functional engineering teams
• Ability to track product cost, tooling investment, and program budgets against targets.
• Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and release management systems
• Strong risk management, issue resolution, and escalation management capabilities
• Experience coordinating design, validation, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams
• Excellent stakeholder management, customer communication, and executive reporting skills
• Proficiency in project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or similar planning tools
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, DFM, DFMEA, and automotive development best practices
• Strong analytical, organizational, and leadership skills

Job Description

Program Manager

Must Have Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong Program Management experience in Automotive Product Development programs
• Experience managing end-to-end vehicle development programs from concept through production
• Good understanding of mechanical product development lifecycle, engineering design, CAE validation loops, release management, and production readiness
• Experience in program planning, scheduling, critical path management, and milestone tracking
• Knowledge of Design Verification Plan (DVP) planning, execution tracking, and issue management
• Understanding component release processes, BOM management, engineering change management, and supplier development activities
• Experience working with OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and cross-functional engineering teams
• Ability to track product cost, tooling investment, and program budgets against targets.
• Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and release management systems
• Strong risk management, issue resolution, and escalation management capabilities
• Experience coordinating design, validation, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams
• Excellent stakeholder management, customer communication, and executive reporting skills
• Proficiency in project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or similar planning tools
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, DFM, DFMEA, and automotive development best practices
• Strong analytical, organizational, and leadership skills

Roles & Responsibilities

• Lead overall program management activities for a Automotive development program
• Develop and maintain an integrated program plan encompassing engineering development, Styling surface development, CAE iterations, release milestones, supplier selection, tooling lead times, and build events
• Track program deliverables, milestones, dependencies, risks, and critical path activities to ensure timely execution
• Drive cross-functional program reviews and provide regular status reporting to leadership
• Monitor unit cost and tooling investments against targets and highlight deviations with mitigation plans
• Coordinate component release planning and execution across all engineering workstreams
• Lead DVP planning, schedule tracking, issue management, and readiness reviews
• Manage technical interactions with suppliers and drive resolution of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) concerns
• Coordinate with engineering, validation, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and release management teams to ensure program alignment
• Establish and manage risk registers, issue logs, action trackers, and escalation mechanisms
• Ensure all engineering deliverables are completed in accordance with program timing and quality expectations
• Track gateway readiness and support successful completion of program milestones
• Facilitate decision-making by providing program insights, metrics, and recommendations to stakeholders
• Drive change management activities and assess the impact of engineering, supplier, or schedule changes on overall program objectives
• Maintain effective communication between suppliers, OEM stakeholders, and internal engineering teams
• Ensure adherence to program governance processes, reporting standards, and customer expectations

Generic Managerial Skills, If any

Communication: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical teams (design, software) and non-technical teams (operations, technicians).

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering (EE), Automotive Engineering (ME) or equivalent practical experience.

TCS Employee Benefits Summary

• Discretionary Annual Incentive.
• Comprehensive Medical Coverage: Medical & Health, Dental & Vision, Disability Planning & Insurance, Pet Insurance Plans.
• Family Support: Maternal & Parental Leaves.
• Insurance Options: Auto & Home Insurance, Identity Theft Protection.
• Convenience & Professional Growth: Commuter Benefits & Certification & Training Reimbursement.
• Time Off: Vacation, Time Off, Sick Leave & Holidays.
• Legal & Financial Assistance: Legal Assistance, 401K Plan, Performance Bonus, College Fund, Student Loan Refinancing.

Salary Range: $110000 - 125000 a year

Qualifications

BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE