Project Manager

Actalent; Zeeland (MI); On-site; USD 62,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Project Manager for Automotive New Product Development in Zeeland, MI. Lead the cross-functional effort from concept through full manufacturing implementation, coordinating engineering, suppliers and manufacturing teams to meet timelines and launch milestones.

The role requires a strong mechanical engineering background and proven experience managing automotive product development programs from concept to production launch, with emphasis on organization, accountability and

Qualifications

• Experience leading automotive product development programs from concept through production launch.
• Strong mechanical engineering background with cross-functional coordination skills.
• Ability to manage schedules, risks and stakeholders effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day execution of new product development activities from concept through production launch.
• Coordinate with engineering, suppliers and manufacturing to meet objectives and milestones.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, milestones and program reporting tools.
• Collaborate across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing engineering, quality, supply chain and operations.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings and drive accountability for deliverables and deadlines.
• Identify schedule risks, resource constraints and program issues and mitigate.
• Support design releases, tooling schedules and launch activities with suppliers.
• Assist prototype builds, validation testing and manufacturing readiness.
• Coordinate product transfer and launch execution with manufacturing teams in Mexico.
• Communicate project status, issues, critical path activities and mitigation plans to leadership.
• Drive change management and engineering changes throughout the development lifecycle.
• Maintain project documentation and reporting using Smartsheet and other PM tools.
• Align engineering development with manufacturing launch requirements for ramp-up.

Skills

Automotive project management

Mechanical engineering

New product development to production

Job description

Job Title: Project Manager Automotive New Product Development

Job Description

The Project Manager will lead the development and launch of a new automotive product from initial concept through full manufacturing implementation. This role serves as the primary coordinator across engineering, suppliers, and manufacturing teams to ensure that project objectives, timelines, and launch milestones are achieved. The position requires a strong mechanical engineering background and proven experience managing automotive product development programs from concept through production launch, with a focus on organization, accountability, and clear communication with stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day execution of new product development activities from concept through production launch.
• Partner closely with the Program Manager to keep project objectives, timelines, risks, and deliverables on track.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, milestones, action item trackers, and program reporting tools.
• Coordinate activities across mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations teams to ensure alignment and progress.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings and drive accountability for project deliverables and deadlines.
• Monitor project progress and proactively identify schedule risks, resource constraints, and program issues.
• Work closely with suppliers to support design releases, component readiness, tooling schedules, and launch activities.
• Support prototype builds, validation testing, and manufacturing readiness activities throughout the development cycle.
• Collaborate with manufacturing teams at the facility in Mexico to ensure successful product transfer, production integration, and launch execution.
• Track and communicate project status, open issues, critical path activities, and mitigation plans to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Drive change management activities and coordinate engineering changes throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation and reporting using Smartsheet and other project management tools as needed.
• Ensure alignment between engineering development activities and manufacturing launch requirements to support a smooth ramp-up to production.

Essential Skills

• Automotive Project Management Experience
• Mechanical Engineering background
• New Product Development from Concept to Production Launch

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Zeeland, MI.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $60.00/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)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Zeeland, MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 2, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Zeeland,MI.

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.