Project Manager-PM

$75,000 - $75,000/Yr

ALTEN - Auburn Hills, MI

Full-time - Mid Level

Auburn Hills, MI

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Project Manager position in Auburn Hills, MI, is a full-time role focused on technical program management for vehicle lines. The successful candidate will serve as the key point of contact between the design team and various functional areas, including vehicle program management, engineering departments, and manufacturing. This role is critical in ensuring that systems meet all functional and performance requirements while adhering to cost, weight, investment, timing, and quality objectives. The Project Manager will lead system responsibilities from the launch phase through the end of the product's life cycle. This includes providing dedicated support for bulletin responses, which may involve concept studies, initial packaging, cost and weight analysis, prototype procurement, supplier management, sourcing, tooling kickoff, validation, program maintenance, change management, value optimization, and quality improvement initiatives. The role also requires coordinating technical issue resolution related to engineering and quality at all stages of the program and across all functional areas. Additionally, the Project Manager must support plant development and launch activities onsite, acting as a visible member of the launch team representing their respective function. They will define, share, and update the vehicle development plan to ensure the coherence of vehicle behavior and the availability of planned features at all stages. The position also involves releasing specifications to all suppliers and managing the Requirements Change Management process through Design Change Requests (DCR) to align requirements with product planning requests, bug fixes, and supplier feedback. Post-launch, the Project Manager will be responsible for warranty performance and will lead activities at the plant, such as warranty tables for all commodities under their umbrella to meet targets. They will also lead activities for Value Optimization to achieve established targets for each program by supporting teardown events, supplier VO meetings, and processing ideas through the ILO process (0-4).

Responsibilities

• Technical program management for one vehicle line, acting as the key point of contact between the design team and other functional areas.
• Ensure systems meet all functional and performance requirements while adhering to cost, weight, investment, timing, and quality objectives.
• Lead system responsibilities from launch phase through end of life, providing dedicated support for bulletin responses.
• Coordinate technical issue resolution related to engineering and quality at all stages of the program.
• Support plant development and launch activities onsite as a visible member of the launch team.
• Define, share, and update the vehicle development plan to ensure coherence of vehicle behavior and availability of planned features.
• Release specifications to all suppliers and manage the Requirements Change Management process through Design Change Requests (DCR).
• Responsible for warranty performance post-launch and lead activities at the plant to meet warranty targets.
• Lead activities for Value Optimization to meet established targets for each program.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering or equivalent from an ABET accredited program.
• Engineering experience with an emphasis on Interior components at either an OEM or supplier.
• General knowledge of tooling and manufacturing processes including molding, stamping, welding, brazing, machining, casting, and coatings.
• Strong leadership skills with an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to sell ideas to stakeholders.
• Proven capability in problem solving and root-causing.
• Self-sufficient with the ability to influence and lead others without formal authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic financial understanding with the ability to maintain program budget.
• Proven experience in program management with the ability to set timelines and execute at required milestones.
• Requirements Management / Change Management basics.
• Ability to lead and manage suppliers.
• Proven capability to develop parts/systems in co-design with third parties (Tier1s).
• Ability to review and apply component and system Design Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and DVP&Rs.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent activities.
• Experience in DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) proactive and/or reactive quality tools is a plus.
• Ability and knowledge to create effective presentations.
• High level of experience with MS Office tools.
• Ability to operate both independently and as part of a team.
• Some travel required to supplier and vehicle assembly plants in North America.
• High level of proficiency in English (speaking, reading, writing).

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) quality tools.
• Proficiency in creating effective presentations.