Senior Launch Engineer

Volvo Car Germany GmbH; Ridgeville (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive medical, dental, vision

Family Bond by Volvo Cars parental-lea

Volvo Employee Lease Program (VELP)

Wellness program and savings plans

Job summary

Volvo Car Germany GmbH is seeking a Senior Launch Engineer to lead Body Shop launch activities, from Virtual Build to SOP +90 days, ensuring production readiness and smooth handover to the production organization.

You will drive cross-functional integration, manage risks, and provide senior technical direction to secure a stable, quality launch and strong governance throughout the program.

Qualifications

• Experience in an active manufacturing production environment.
• Hands-on project management and vehicle launch experience.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making in a fast-paced production environment.
• Ability to lead through influence across functions and levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
• High school diploma or GED.

Responsibilities

• Launch ownership: lead body shop launch workstreams and ensure requirements are understood, planned, executed, tracked, and closed.
• Production readiness: drive readiness from Virtual Build through SOP +90, identify gaps and escalate risks.
• Cross-functional integration: coordinate with Launch, Manufacturing, Production, Quality, Maintenance, Logistics, and Product teams.
• Issue leadership: resolve launch issues with data, ownership, due dates, and escalation as needed.
• Launch health reporting: provide concise input on status, risks, actions, and recovery plans.
• Quality and process stability: address concerns to prevent production losses.
• Planning and prioritization: organize work and resources to meet objectives.
• Senior technical direction: provide production-based input and sound technical judgment.
• Operational handover: transfer deliverables and lessons learned to production.
• Leadership and culture: model Volvo Cars values with collaboration and accountability.

Skills

Launch project management

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Effective communication

MS Office & Project

Production environment knowledge

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

MS Project

Job description

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Senior Launch Engineer

Let's introduce ourselves

The Senior Launch Engineer is a key member of the Body Shop Launch organization and is directly involved in the Launch Quality Operating System (LQOS) and the Volvo Product Development System (VPDS). The role supports the launch program from Virtual Build through SOP +90 days, translating program requirements into stable, production-ready execution within A Shop.Reporting to the Head of Launch, this position provides senior technical leadership across launch activities, drives cross-functional alignment, and ensures that risks, open issues, resources, and deliverables are managed with the urgency and discipline required for a successful production launch.

What you'll do

• Launch ownership - Lead assigned Body Shop launch workstreams and ensure launch requirements are understood, planned, executed, tracked, and closed in line with LQOS and program timing.
• Production readiness - Drive readiness from Virtual Build through SOP +90 by identifying gaps, defining countermeasures, escalating risks, and confirming sustainable handover to the production organization.
• Cross-functional integration - Work closely with Launch, Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Quality, Maintenance, Logistics, Product/Program teams, and other stakeholders to ensure decisions and actions are aligned across functions.
• Issue leadership - Lead structured resolution of launch issues using facts, data, clear ownership, due dates, and escalation when required. Maintain focus on root cause, containment, permanent corrective action, and verification of effectiveness.
• Launch health reporting - Provide accurate, concise input to Body Shop Launch Health reporting, including status, risks, actions, decisions needed, and recovery plans for launch-related items.
• Quality and process stability - Support achievement of launch quality, process capability, production stability, and repeatability by ensuring identified concerns are addressed before they become sustained production losses.
• Planning and prioritization - Organize work, priorities, and available resources so short- and long-term launch objectives are delivered efficiently and critical-path activities remain visible.
• Senior technical direction - Provide practical production-based input and direction on Body Shop launch topics and support sound decision-making with clear technical judgment.
• Operational handover - Ensure launch deliverables, open-item ownership, standards, and lessons learned are transferred effectively to the receiving production organization.
• Leadership and culture - Model the aspired Volvo Cars culture through collaboration, accountability, transparency, respect, and a strong commitment to safe and sustainable business results.
• Compliance and governance - Operate in accordance with applicable legal requirements, company compliance standards, delegated authorities, processes, procedures, and instructions.

What you'll bring

• Demonstrated experience in an active manufacturing production environment, with strong working knowledge of at least one area such as Stamping, Body-in-White, Paint & Plastic, TCF, Quality, or MP&L.
• Hands-on project management and/or vehicle launch experience with the ability to manage multiple priorities, risks, stakeholders, and deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability in a fast-paced production environment.
• Ability to lead through influence, communicate clearly across functions and levels, and drive accountability without losing collaboration.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
• High school diploma or GED.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Broad Body Shop / BIW manufacturing knowledge and prior experience supporting production ramp-up, launch readiness, or operational handover.
• Experience presenting complex launch status, risks, and technical topics to senior leadership in a concise, decision-oriented format.

Other Duties

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Let's Talk Benefits

• Join Volvo Cars and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits designed with you in mind. Our programs offer choice, flexibility, and exceptional value, including competitive medical, dental, and vision plans, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and a wellness program with discounts and gifts, most of which start on day one of employment. You'll also have access to voluntary benefits and a robust retirement savings plan with employer contributions.
• As part of our commitment to your well-being, we offer The Family Bond by Volvo Cars, a global paid parental leave policy covering all employees, including adoptive, permanent care foster, and surrogate parents. Additionally, employees and their eligible family members can lease a new Volvo at discounted rates through the Volvo Employee Lease Program (VELP). At Volvo Cars, our benefits extend beyond the workplace to enhance your life and support your family.

Volvo Car is an equal opportunity employer. The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the US without sponsorship.