Launch Manager

Launch Manager

Location: Memphis, Tennessee

Compensation: $110,000-$135,000 DOE + 15% Annual Incentive Program + 20% Long-Term Incentive Program

Employment Type: Full-time

About the Company

HireIQ Solutions is leading the search for a Launch Manager at a US manufacturer of engineered-to-order HVAC and thermal management systems serving data centers and other complex commercial and industrial environments. The company designs and manufactures highly customized equipment and continues to invest in manufacturing readiness, facility expansion, and cross-functional execution as it scales new product lines and production capability. The Memphis role is the immediate priority and tied to a critical upcoming product launch.

About the Role

This role leads cross-functional operational readiness for introducing new or revised HVAC products into manufacturing. The Launch Manager ensures production capabilities, materials, staffing, equipment, quality processes, facility needs, and training readiness are in place to support a smooth transition from planning through start of production. This role is focused on execution from the manufacturing side after product design is substantially defined, partnering closely with Product Management, Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Warehousing, Manufacturing Engineering, and site leadership to make sure the launch happens without gaps or surprises.

The right person will bring proven hands-on launch experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally from automotive, HVAC, or another advanced industrial setting. This is a high-energy, floor-connected role for someone who knows how to drive readiness across multiple departments, stay on top of timelines and open items, and push a launch to completion in a fast-paced environment. The hiring manager emphasized the need for someone who is extremely self-motivated, collaborative, Excel-capable, and already experienced in doing this work at a meaningful scale.

Key Responsibilities
• Lead cross-functional planning and execution activities to ensure full operational readiness for new product launches or major product changes.
• Develop and maintain launch plans, schedules, stage gates, and readiness criteria to guide teams through planning, pilot builds, and production ramp.
• Coordinate material readiness, workforce planning, equipment and tooling preparation, process validation, quality planning, training readiness, and logistics flow design.
• Ensure production needs, facility capabilities, and workforce availability are aligned during ramp-up.
• Identify risks and issues, facilitate problem resolution, and drive corrective or recovery actions to maintain launch timelines.
• Prepare capacity, performance, and readiness reporting to support decision-making and leadership communication.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, Program Management, Procurement, Warehousing, and site leadership to achieve launch performance goals.
• Support manufacturing-side execution once product definition is established, ensuring the operation is ready to build at target timing, cost, and quality.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field is preferred, but not required if paired with significant relevant launch experience.
• 5+ years of experience leading new product introductions or major operational changes in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong hands-on manufacturing launch experience is essential; logistics or supply chain experience alone is not enough.
• Automotive, HVAC, or other advanced manufacturing launch experience is highly relevant.
• Experience with multimillion-dollar product or line launches is strongly preferred.
• Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering background is preferred for technical credibility and cross-functional communication.
• Lean or continuous improvement experience is beneficial.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including planning, tracking, and risk management.
• Ability to analyze operational data, assess capacity, and interpret production and quality performance.
• Skilled in facilitating cross-functional collaboration and communicating with both shop-floor teams and leadership.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing workflows, production processes, and continuous improvement methods.
• Ability to develop standard operating procedures, readiness checklists, and documentation supporting production launch.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets, especially Excel, visual reporting tools, and basic modeling techniques.
• High-energy, self-motivated, highly organized, and comfortable driving action in a fast-paced environment.

Team & Reporting Structure
• Reports directly to the Director of Facilities and Launch.
• Will be one of three Launch Managers as the function is built out across key manufacturing locations.
• Solid-line reporting to the Director of Facilities and Launch, with dotted-line partnership to the site leader in Memphis.
• Works closely with operations teams, project managers, procurement, warehousing, engineering, manufacturing engineering, and other functional stakeholders.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements
• Performs work across office, test, and manufacturing floor environments.
• Regular presence near moving mechanical equipment and varying noise levels.
• Exposure to temperature fluctuations, dust, and industrial conditions.
• Compliance with safety policies and use of personal protective equipment as required.
• Occasional evening, weekend, or off-shift work may be necessary to support critical production activities.
• Occasional travel to suppliers or other facilities may be required.
• Memphis-based presence is strongly preferred; weekly travel can be considered for the right candidate, but this role is expected to be on-site consistently to support launch execution.

Why Join

This is an opportunity to step into a critical launch leadership role tied to a major upcoming product introduction in Memphis. The right person will help build out a newer manufacturing site, create launch discipline where it has not existed historically, and bring proven expertise that can shape how the broader organization approaches manufacturing readiness going forward. It is a strong fit for someone who enjoys cross-functional execution, building structure, and driving high-visibility operational results.