Program Manager - Automotive

Mitchell Plastics

$80K — $110K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
  • 5+ years of experience in engineering automotive components
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, and CAD software
  • Knowledge of IATF 16949 quality and environmental management systems
  • Familiarity with OEM customer-specific requirements
  • Direct experience collaborating with automotive OEMs
  • Willingness to travel within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as needed

Responsibilities

  • Manage all stages of program development from concept to pre-production sign-off
  • Ensure timely progress tracking of program schedules and tool reports
  • Maintain a visual overview of program issues and updates
  • Lead regular APQP and program-specific meetings with thorough documentation
  • Monitor program financial status and documentation accuracy
  • Oversee product design processes and customer communications
  • Coordinate and validate tooling aspects before production launch

Benefits

  • Ability to work in a professional and innovative environment
  • Collaborative work culture fostering cross-functional teamwork
  • Opportunities for career development within a growing engineering team
  • Involvement in projects impacting the automotive industry
  • Travel opportunities across North America
Full Job Description
The Opportunity:

We are currently seeking a Program Manager to join our Corporate Engineering team. The successful candidate will be based out of our Technical Center in Kitchener, Ontario.

Key Responsibilities:

Program management
  • Own all phases of awarded program development including program management, project engineering, prototype assembly, design, tooling, quoting, feasibility, change notice process, and pre-production sign-off
  • Maintain ultimate timing responsibility through all development phases, tracking program schedules and tool progress reports
  • Track and update all program-specific open issues and maintain visual program display boards, updated weekly
  • Lead regular APQP meetings; initiate program-specific meetings and ensure all discussions and approvals are properly recorded
  • Maintain program financial status by updating program quotations and balance sheets; ensure all documentation including POs, requisitions, and meeting minutes are current
  • Create and maintain all program information on the intranet; track incoming and outgoing data and maintain thorough program records

Design and development
  • Lead conceptual and detailed product design including benchmarking, subcontracting, data transfer, design review, and design validation; communicate design progress to the customer
  • Conduct weekly design reviews with the design team; schedule milestone design reviews with cross-functional stakeholders from manufacturing, quality, and management
  • Manage the validation and test process; ensure all customer DVP&R requirements are met and concerns are addressed via 8D methodology with findings documented on DFMEA, PFMEA, and control plans
  • Manage the paint development process and coordinate pre-production and run-at-rate trials with support from program engineers and the manufacturing paint engineer

Tooling and launch
  • Manage all tooling aspects of awarded programs; source capable molds, gauges, and fixtures; approve tools before shipping to plants and manage engineering changes to tools in production
  • Ensure all pre-production documentation, testing, drawings, process analysis, dimensional control, and capacity analysis are completed prior to launch; lead process sign-off and customer approval activities
  • Initiate feasibility studies for new programs; review and log all quotes per established procedure with sign-off from the Director of Engineering or General Manager

Our Ideal Candidate:
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
  • 5+ years of experience in engineering interior decorative and functional automotive components for automotive suppliers
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, and CAD software
  • Understanding of IATF 16949 quality and environmental management systems
  • Familiarity with OEM customer-specific requirements
  • Experience working directly with automotive OEMs
  • Willingness and ability to travel within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as required

Job Details:

Employment Type: Full-time
Work Location: 60 Washburn Drive, Kitchener, Ontario (on-site)
Hours of Work: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
Job Vacancy: This posting is to fill an upcoming open position

We thank all candidates for their interest, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.

Artificial intelligence may be used during the recruitment process to screen or assess candidate applications.

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