Program Manager

Job Title: Program Manager Job Description
The Program Manager leads complex automotive lighting and electronics programs from concept through successful launch, serving as the primary customer-facing representative and cross-functional leader. This role oversees multiple OEM programs, particularly for German automotive manufacturers such as BMW or similar, as well as Ford and Stellantis, ensuring timing, quality, budget, and product requirements are consistently achieved using APQP and customer-specific quality processes.
Responsibilities
- Oversee the successful management and flawless launch of assigned customer product development and launch programs, ensuring all timing, quality, financial, and product requirements are met.
- Plan, schedule, organize, direct, and control program activities while leading the Program Team in accordance with customer program management processes and APQP procedures.
- Represent the program team in a professional manner to customers and internal leadership, taking personal ownership for program success and motivating the team to meet commitments.
- Clarify team roles and responsibilities, maintain team morale, and resolve conflicts between team members and departments to ensure smooth cross-functional collaboration.
- Lead comprehensive program planning, including development and maintenance of detailed program timelines and key milestones.
- Manage and run SDT (Simultaneous Development Team) meetings and lead Program Review meetings, including Gate Reviews, with management and relevant stakeholders.
- Maintain and control all relevant program documentation and processes, including the Program Workbook, Open Issues List, Program Budgets, and program timelines.
- Establish internal and external targets, objectives, and deliverables by working closely with management, customers, and the Program Team.
- Support the Manufacturing Team during production builds, team meetings, customer reviews, and critical production preparation activities to ensure readiness for launch.
- Drive the Program Team process to achieve all internal and external financial targets, including cost and budget objectives.
- Build and maintain effective customer relationships, serving as the primary OEM-facing representative for program-related activities and communications.
- Utilize project scope management tools, including formal written responses to scope change requests, clearly outlining product, cost, and timing impacts to protect both customer and supplier positions.
- Proactively escalate future risks to management, clearly identifying specific tasks, deliverables, and support needed to mitigate those risks.
- Lead the Program Team to meet all customer and internal quality targets, launching products below targets for launch cost, scrap, and containment.
- Ensure adherence to all customer quality systems, APQP requirements, and processes throughout the program lifecycle.
- Manage multiple concurrent programs (typically 23) while maintaining high standards of organization, efficiency, and prioritization.
- Guide programs from cradle to grave, including development, production preparation, prototype and production builds, and successful launch/SOP.
- Coordinate and participate in OEM customer reviews, communicate issues clearly, negotiate priorities, and manage expectations throughout the program.
- Collaborate closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, Operations, Sales, and other functions, leading cross-functional efforts without direct reporting authority.
- Participate in remote and off-hours calls with internal teams and customers, including coordination with teams based in China, while managing schedule flexibility appropriately.
- Travel bi-monthly to the manufacturing plant in Tennessee for approximately one week at a time to support program activities and production readiness.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree in Engineering.
- At least 10 years of experience in the automotive industry in a Program Management function.
- Extensive experience supporting automotive lighting or electronics programs (such as PCB, body electronics, power electronics); plastics experience is acceptable when combined with lighting or electronics exposure.
- Proven experience managing up to 23 automotive programs simultaneously.
- Direct experience supporting BMW programs or similar German OEMs (such as VW or Mercedes) and/or Ford or Stellantis programs.
- Demonstrated responsibility for program timing, cost and budgeting, quality, product requirements, and launch execution.
- Track record of taking automotive programs from concept through development, production preparation, builds, and successful launch/SOP.
- Hands-on experience actively managing programs using APQP processes and customer-specific quality requirements.
- OEM customer-facing experience, including leading customer reviews, communicating technical and program issues, negotiating priorities, and managing expectations.
- Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to lead Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, Operations, Sales, and other teams without direct authority.
- High level of organization and efficiency, with the ability to develop specific goals, prioritize tasks, and work effectively with minimal supervision.
- Ability to travel to a plant in Tennessee bi-monthly for approximately one week per trip.
- Ability to participate in calls outside normal working hours with customers or internal teams in China, with flexibility to adjust work schedule accordingly.
- Program management expertise in automotive environments, including budgeting, quoting, and customer interactions.
- Working knowledge of automotive lighting and electronics, including exterior and interior lighting, lighting design, PCB, electrical design, and digital lighting concepts.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with cutting-edge automotive lighting and electronics technologies.
- Strong relationship-building skills with global customers and internal teams.
- Comfort working in a small, highly collaborative R&D office environment.
- Ability to manage detailed program documentation and track open issues to closure.
- Skill in risk identification, mitigation planning, and escalation to leadership.
- Experience leading SDT and gate review processes in an automotive context.
- Proficiency in coordinating cross-functional activities related to manufacturing builds and production preparation.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain team morale and resolve interpersonal or interdepartmental conflicts.
- Experience in digital and electrical design aspects of lighting and electronics is beneficial.
Work Environment
This role operates within a small, collaborative R&D office environment in Plymouth, MI, focused on automotive lighting and electronics programs. The team works with cutting-edge technology in exterior and interior lighting, electronics, and related design disciplines. The position follows a hybrid work schedule, with Monday and Friday typically remote and Tuesday through Thursday in the office, complemented by regular collaboration with manufacturing teams at a plant in Tennessee and global teams, including those based in China. The environment emphasizes cross-functional teamwork, professional customer interaction, and structured program management processes such as APQP, SDT meetings, and formal gate reviews.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Plymouth, MI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $135000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Health Benefits, 401K match
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Plymouth, MI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 13, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Plymouth,MI. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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