Project Manager

Socket.dev; Lakeville (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) with company matching

Paid time off

Wellness programs

Education reimbursement

Product discounts

Casual dress code

Job summary

QA1 is seeking a Project Manager to lead new product launches across our performance shocks, steering and suspension portfolios. Based at our Lakeville, MN facility, you will define launch execution and partner with engineering and manufacturing teams to drive on-time delivery.

You will manage timelines, risks, and cross-functional deliverables while keeping stakeholders informed through dashboards and regular gate reviews, ensuring high-quality products reach customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business or related.
• At least 3 years of PM experience leading new product launches in manufacturing.
• Experience with launches using in-house and external materials.
• PMP certification preferred.
• Familiar with Stage-Gate product development.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and ECN/engineering change management.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills in a non-reporting structure.
• Detail oriented, organized, and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to collaborate across functions and build relationships.
• Willingness to learn and accept feedback to improve performance.
• Ability to act with urgency and accuracy amid changing priorities.
• Proficient with Office, ERP, and PM software including Gantt charts.
• People skills and ability to work with a diverse team.
• Values alignment with QA1.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project timelines, milestones, and launch schedules.
• Track deliverables and coordinate activities across all functional areas.
• Promote focus on critical path and high-risk items at all times.
• Facilitate regular project meetings.
• Coordinate with all responsible parties to ensure gate review deliverables are met and documented.
• Identify project risks and implement mitigation plans; escalate as needed.
• Escalate project issues and drive timely resolution.
• Lead NPI activities from design handoff through production launch.
• Track tooling, fixture, equipment, and process development activities.
• Coordinate with Procurement and Planning to ensure components are available.
• Coordinate with Operations to ensure adequate manufacturing capacity.
• Serve as central point of communication for launch activities.
• Maintain project dashboards and broadcast data to stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Leadership

Problem-solving

Organization

Influence without authority

Urgency and accountability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business

PMP certification preferred

Tools

ERP

Gantt charts

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Career:

QA1 Brands is looking for a Project Manager to lead the introduction of new products across our growing portfolio of performance aftermarket and OEM solutions. As a newly created role based in our Lakeville, Minnesota facility, this is a unique opportunity to help define how we execute product launches while becoming a key contributor to the success of our engineering and manufacturing teams.

We're looking for someone who isn't afraid to dive into challenges, build relationships across the organization, and keep projects moving forward when priorities compete for attention. You'll need the confidence and credibility to influence leaders and team members in a non-reporting structure, the organizational skills to manage multiple launches simultaneously, and grit to work through roadblocks and find practical solutions. If you enjoy bringing structure to complexity and taking ownership of outcomes, we'd love to talk with you!

What You Will Do:

• Develop and maintain project timelines, milestones, and launch schedules.
• Track deliverables and coordinate activities across all functional areas.
• Promote a clear focus on critical path and high-risk items at all times.
• Facilitate regular project meetings.
• Coordinate with all responsible parties to ensure gate review deliverables are met and documented; elevate as needed.
• Identify project risks and implement mitigation plans; elevate as needed.
• Escalate project issues and drive timely resolution.
• Lead NPI activities from design handoff through production launch.
• Track tooling, fixture, equipment, and process development activities.
• Coordinate with Procurement and Planning to ensure all components and materials are available to support launch schedules.
• Coordinate with Operations to ensure adequate manufacturing capacity is available to meet launch schedules.
• Serve as the central point of communication for launch activities.
• Maintain project dashboards and broadcast project data as necessary to inform all interested parties within the organization.

The Critical Skills and Experience You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business or other affiliated discipline
• At least 3 years project management experience leading new product launches from engineering design release through manufacturing readiness and production launch within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing new product launches involving a combination of internally manufactured and externally sourced materials, components, and assemblies.
• PMP certification preferred
• Familiarity with Stage-Gate product development process
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and engineering change management
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, and listening) as well as ability to coach, mentor, and influence others in non-reporting structure
• Proactively addresses challenges with a positive attitude, acknowledging issues while working collaboratively with others to brainstorm and implement solutions
• Detail oriented, organized, and capable of working effectively with minimum supervision
• Must have ability to collaborate, build, and maintain strong relationships with Team Members across all functions
• Willingness to continuously learn and be open to feedback to improve individual performance
• Must have demonstrable ability to act with a sense of urgency and accuracy, with flexibility to respond to changing priorities
• Demonstrable technical proficiency with Microsoft Office products, ERP, and project management software including Gantt charting
• Person people want to work with.
• Ability to work with a diverse team
• Verified personal and professional values aligning with QA1

The Company:

QA1is a privately held leader in performance shocks, steering and suspension systems, chassis, rod ends and related components for the motorsports and industrial markets. With multiple U.S.-based manufacturing facilities equipped with state-of-the-art technology, we are committed to delivering high-quality products that meet the demanding standards of our customers.

Our core values: Create Solutions, Earn It, People Centric, Do the Right Thing - guide everything we do, shaping our products, customer interactions, and internal collaborations. These principles shape a culture that provides premium performance at competitive pricing, while continuously innovating to solve complex challenges. With a focus on long-term relationships, we prioritize customer interests and deliver reliability and credibility.

Our team of over 230 individuals includes passionate racers, automotive enthusiasts, and experts from a variety of industrial fields, fostering a dynamic and collaborative workforce who work together across multiple brands and locations to create high-quality products and deliver great experiences for our customers. Team QA1 includes the people behind our brands: QA1, Detroit Speed & Engineering, Speedtech Performance, and Proforged. While each brand serves a distinct purpose in the market, internally we are united by shared values, goals, and a commitment to doing the right thing.

Our work environment is more than just task-oriented; it is a place where we support each other, have fun, and recognize that every contribution is essential to our collective success. We are not just a company; we are a close-knit, high performing team dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences for our customers and one another.

The Rewards:

At QA1, we understand that high-performance teams deserve high-performance rewards. That's why we offer a comprehensive set of benefits designed to keep our team members fueled, motivated, and achieving their career goals. We support our team, ensuring they have the resources to perform at their best, achieve financial success, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Our rewards include:

• Competitive Pay – based on experience
• Comprehensive Benefits – Medical, dental, life, disability, vision insurance and more
• 401(k) with Company Contribution – Helping you plan for a secure future
• Paid Time Off – Company-paid days off for holidays and taking time to recharge
• Wellness Programs & Perks – Programs to keep you in top shape – physically, socially, and financially
• Development Opportunities – Personal and professional growth opportunities, including education reimbursement, to keep you improving your skills and advancing your career
• Community Engagement – Opportunities to give back through local and national charity efforts, strengthening the community around us
• Exclusive Product Discounts – Enjoy discounts on company products so you can experience our incredible solutions firsthand
• And more perks: Enjoy a climate-controlled manufacturing floor, onsite canteen offerings, a relaxed, casual dress code and a work dog!

The base pay offered will be determined on factors such as experience, skills, training, location, certifications, education, and any applicable minimum wage requirements. Decisions will be determined on a case-by-case basis.