Launch Manager - Tier 1 Automotive Industry

Launch Manager

The Launch Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating all manufacturing plant activities related to the successful launch of new and current automotive programs within a Tier 1 supplier environment. Serving as the primary technical interface between the plant, program management, and customer teams, this role ensures product launches meet quality, cost, delivery, and timing requirements. The Launch Manager oversees APQP activities, tooling and capital investments, launch budgets, engineering changes, and cross-functional plant readiness from pre-production through launch stabilization.

Responsibilities include acting as the technical liaison between the manufacturing plant, program management, and customer teams, maintaining accountability for all assembly plant activities related to new program launches and ongoing model changes, coordinating cross-functional efforts to achieve program deliverables and ensure on-time, successful launches, leading plant launch buildout meetings, open-issue reviews, and readiness assessments; driving actions to closure and escalating issues as needed, leading plant APQP activities and ensuring alignment with internal and customer-specific requirements, overseeing product and process validation, developing plant quality specification sheets defining part quality requirements and acceptance standards, developing and validating packaging specifications to support safe, efficient delivery to customers, initiating and managing program commitments including tooling, capital equipment, and launch-related investments, tracking and verifying tooling development, installation, and readiness to support program timelines, leading launch budget planning, tracking, and reporting for tooling, equipment, and capital expenditures, supporting material costing, bill-of-material (BOM) creation, and financial validation for new and current programs, providing daily leadership and direction to Plant Departments regarding build timing and launch schedules, product configurations, component and supplier readiness, developing and coordinating sample and prototype manufacturing schedules with plant scheduling and engineering teams, coordinating and managing outsourced production activities and vendor support related to launch programs, owning the Change Implementation Process for new and current model programs, understanding, communicating, and leading plant response to engineering changes affecting product or process, assessing plant impacts and developing coordinated implementation plans for changes, leading preparation of quotes, cost impacts, and timing changes related to product design or production process modifications, maintaining regular communication with customers to ensure requirements are fully understood and supply continuity is maintained, supporting marketing and commercial activities, including customer presentations, datasheets, customer visits, and market research, and assisting in the development of product business cases and launch plans aligned with customer and company objectives.

Skills include strong cross-functional leadership and team collaboration skills, excellent organizational and project management abilities, high attention to detail with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, effective verbal and written communication skills, including customer-facing interaction, ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, and proven capability to deliver customer-focused solutions.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree (BS) required in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or related field, Master's degree (MA/MBA or technical discipline) preferred, 58 years of experience in automotive manufacturing, launch management, or program management, Tier 1 automotive supplier experience strongly preferred, and demonstrated experience supporting plant launches and cross-functional teams.

Perks of working with us include competitive salary, three (3) weeks of vacation (prorated the first year), 401(k) match up to 4%, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, holiday plant shut-down & employee engagement company events, and employee assistance program (EAP).