Our team is expanding and looking to add a
Launch Project Manager. We are seeking a dynamic and driven candidate interested in joining a rapidly growing global automotive company.
The
Launch Project Manager will act as the primary liaison between the factory and its key clients. Additional responsibilities include:
1. Development Phase (Pre-SOP):
- Project Launch & Planning: Lead project kick-off meetings, develop a detailed master project schedule, and define key milestones, deliverables, and resource requirements for all phases.
- APQP Process Leadership: Strictly drive the five phases of APQP, ensuring all deliverables (FMEA, Control Plans, Process Flow, PPAP, etc.) are completed on time and to standard.
- Primary Technical Customer Interface: Serve as the main liaison with the customer's engineering team, leading technical reviews, managing engineering change requests (ECN), and overseeing sample delivery and approval.
- Cross-Functional Coordination: Coordinate efforts between the China R&D center and US factory teams (Process Engineering, Quality, Purchasing) to ensure product design is manufacturable and cost-optimized.
- Risk Management: Identify technical, supply chain, and scheduling risks during development, and lead the development of mitigation strategies.
2. Mass Production Phase (SOP & Beyond):
- Smooth Production Launch: Lead PPAP submission and approval, ensuring a stable production start-up and achieving Initial Quality (IQ) targets.
- Full Lifecycle QCDS Management: Hold ultimate responsibility for the project's post-launch quality performance, cost (budget vs. actual), delivery performance, and customer satisfaction.
- Continuous Improvement: Lead post-launch cost optimization (VA/VE), production efficiency improvements, and problem resolution (leading 8D reports).
- Change Management: Evaluate and manage all customer and internal engineering changes during mass production, conducting impact analysis, providing quotations, and ensuring flawless implementation.
- Customer Relationship & Commercial Management: Act as the primary day-to-day contact for the customer, managing contracts, quotations, regular business reviews (QBR), and payment collection.
- Project Closure: Manage the end-of-life (EOL) phase, including final production runs, tooling disposition, and final financial settlement.
To be a qualified candidate you must have the following: - Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Automotive, Materials, or related field). An MBA, PMP, or Master's in Project Management is a strong plus.
- Minimum 7 years in the automotive components industry, with at least 5 years in full-cycle automotive project management, specifically encompassing both New Product Introduction (NPI) and mass production management experience.
- Must have proven, successful experience directly interfacing with and managing projects for North American OEMs (GM, Ford, Stellantis, Tesla, Toyota, etc.).
- Experience working in or closely with China HQ/Asia-Pacific teams while supporting an overseas plant is highly preferred.
- Familiarity with processes such as stamping, injection molding, painting, plating, or aluminum processing is advantageous.
Key to being successful in this role: - Bilingual proficiency in English and Chinese (Mandarin) is preferred, but not required
- Experience in new plant, new product launch, or mass-production ramp-up is preferred.
- Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, IATF 16949, capacity planning, and automotive quality tools.
- Strong project leadership, cross-functional coordination, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Excel, or similar project-management tools; PMP certification is preferred.
