Senior Program Launch Lead Automotive Growth

Clear Concepts, Inc.; Saint Joseph (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus potential

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401K

Paid holidays and vacation

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Job summary

Clear Concepts, Inc. in St. Joseph, MI area is seeking a Program Launch Manager to lead high-impact automotive product launches.

You will own end-to-end programs from concept through delivery, collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and commercial teams to ensure on-time, within-budget launches. The role reports to the Engineering Manager, with a focus on APQP/PPAP launches, risk mitigation, and process improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; 3–5 years in a similar program management role.
• Background in manufacturing or process engineering.
• Experience in fast-paced manufacturing; automotive suppliers preferred.
• Project management experience including overseeing timelines and budgets.
• Experience communicating directly with customers.
• Experience with launch documentation, such as APQP, PPAPs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Drive End-to-End Project Execution: Lead engineering programs from concept through delivery by defining project scopes, milestone schedules, budgets, and resource allocation to ensure on-time, within-budget launches.
• Manage Changes & APQP Launches: Oversee design and manufacturing process updates, utilizing APQP standards to guide program launch activities and technical documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead Cross-Functional Teams: Direct and hold project team members accountable, collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, and commercial teams to define requirements, remove roadblocks, and execute priorities.
• Mitigate Program Risks: Proactively identify potential design, supply, or timeline bottlenecks and establish data-driven contingency plans to keep critical-path deliverables on schedule.
• Ensure Quality & Compliance: Champion quality assurance standards across all engineering deliverables to guarantee full compliance with automotive and regulatory requirements.
• Executive Communication & Process Optimization: Provide regular status reports, track KPIs, and lead milestone reviews for senior leadership and customers while driving continuous improvements to streamline internal launch workflows.
• Other duties as directed by management

Skills

Project management

Customer communication

Manufacturing background

Timeline & budget management

Launch documentation (APQP/PPAP)

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Clear Concepts, Inc. in St. Joseph, MI area is seeking a Program Launch Manager to lead high-impact automotive product launches.

You will own end-to-end programs from concept through delivery, collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and commercial teams to ensure on-time, within-budget launches. The role reports to the Engineering Manager, with a focus on APQP/PPAP launches, risk mitigation, and process improvement.