Overview
Engineering Program Manager – Automotive Jobs in Sterling Heights, MI at TEEMA
Title: Engineering Program Manager – Automotive
Company: TEEMA
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Responsibilities
- Manage new product launches and engineering change programs from customer award through successful production launch and sign-off.
- Assemble, lead, and coordinate cross-functional APQP teams to ensure programs are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with customer and internal requirements.
- Provide leadership and direction to Project Engineers, Design Engineers, and other program team members.
- Support Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) reviews, providing feasibility recommendations and cost-effective solutions.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive program documentation, including APQP records, engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials (BOMs), engineering changes, and project history.
- Coordinate prototype builds, validation activities, and production sample submissions.
- Ensure all dimensional, appearance, performance, and laboratory testing requirements are completed and submitted according to customer timelines.
- Drive production readiness activities, including facility modifications, equipment procurement and installation, tooling validation, packaging development, and manufacturing process implementation.
- Participate in customer design reviews, launch readiness reviews, build events, and production launches.
- Manage supplier and tooling vendor activities throughout program development, including cost management, tool design reviews, build trials, validation, and production approval.
- Support programs after launch by managing engineering changes, quality concerns, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to customer concerns during launch and production.
- Participate in program costing, budgeting, and business case development for new opportunities.
- Provide supplier performance feedback and collaborate with purchasing, quality, manufacturing, and engineering teams to ensure successful program execution.
- Travel to customer, supplier, manufacturing, and tooling facilities as required.
Qualifications
- Engineering degree or diploma in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Automotive, or a related discipline.
- Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project, databases, and other project management and engineering software tools.
- Minimum 5 years of Program Management experience and 5 years of Engineering experience within an automotive manufacturing environment.
- Experience with plastic injection molding, painting/coating processes, and final assembly operations.
- Strong understanding of:
- GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing)
- APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning)
- PPAP (Production Part Approval Process)
- DV/PV testing and validation processes
- Injection mold tooling design and launch activities
- Experience launching automotive components or systems in collaboration with major OEM customers.
- Knowledge of automotive exterior, interior, or structural plastic components is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing tooling suppliers, manufacturing launches, and cross-functional product development teams.
- Valid passport and ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
- Ability to travel regularly to customer, supplier, manufacturing, and tooling facilities.
