Manager Pilot Launch

The Launch Manager serves as the primary technical and operational interface between the plant, product development (core team), and customer-facing teams. This role is responsible for leading the manufacturing facility through the critical stages of new program launches—from pre‑production through final product validation and series production stabilization. The focus is on ensuring that all manufacturing operations meet stringent quality, cost, delivery, and timing (QCDT) requirements, while maintaining adherence to IATF 16949 and customer‑specific standards.

• Degree: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical/business field.
• Experience: 5–8 years of automotive manufacturing experience, with specific exposure to launch management or program management in a Tier 1 supplier environment preferred.
• Certifications: PMP, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, or equivalent project management certifications highly preferred.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of automotive development life cycles, IATF 16949 quality standards, and lean manufacturing principles.
• Project Governance: Mastery of project management tools (e.g., MS Project, PLM systems, RACI logs, and critical path analysis).
• Leadership: Proven ability to influence and lead cross‑functional teams in high‑pressure, fast‑paced environments.
• Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills; capable of navigating complex relationships between corporate teams, plant floor staff, and external OEM customers.
• Analytical Ability: Strong data‑driven mindset with the ability to translate complex manufacturing metrics into actionable insights for leadership.

• Manage the manufacturing plant’s readiness plan for new programs, overseeing tooling, capital equipment installation, and process validation.
• Lead cross‑functional plant teams (Safety, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials/Supply Chain, IT, HR, and Production) to ensure alignment with project milestones.
• Proactively identify and mitigate technical, schedule, or financial risks, leading problem‑solving sessions to drive launch issues to closure.
• Act as the primary plant representative in program management forums, reporting progress to senior leadership and the customer.

• Lead plant‑level APQP and oversee PPAP, including trial builds and Run@Rate events.
• Ensure all production processes meet quality specifications, developing PFMEA and standardized work instructions.
• Lead the implementation of engineering changes, assessing impacts on production, cost, and timing.

• Oversee launch‑related capital expenditure, tooling budgets, and prototype build expenses; enforce strict budget adherence.
• Coordinate with plant management to identify required skill sets and training needs for new production processes.
• Create and maintain detailed industrialization plans per the Fluids Program Launch Dashboard.
• Maintain launch budget check‑book updates to support program management financial reporting.
• Finalize completion of pilot integration into the Fluids PMP process.
• Ensure 100% pilot/launch process integration and training on all programs.
• Support 100% pilot implementation and reporting in EVP.
• Lead pilot KPI reviews and align on pilot/launch red issues, outputting Level 2 & Level 3 reports of red KPIs.
• Lead launch readiness reviews (pilot/launch audits) per the 2026 program audit schedule.
• Lead plant Obeya room setup per Fluids PMP standard and ensure bi‑weekly updates per EVP reporting standard.
• Support development of industrialization process key‑indicator reporting.
• Provide functional team member training as required per the Fluids PMP and industrialization process.
• Provide customer support on an as‑needed basis.
• Develop site‑specific standard functional deliverable plans and tracking.
• Ensure standard reporting of industrialization activities to support EVP reporting per the Fluids standard.

Background check and pre‑employment drug screen required for employment opportunity.