PMO APQP Quality Specialist
About The Position
The North America Cross Car Line organization is seeking an Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) Specialist Quality Engineer to ensure the quality of supplied components and materials and drive continuous improvement in the supply chain. The specialist serves as a quality-methodology subject matter expert, guiding new products from design through mass production to meet customer requirements, prevent manufacturing defects, and support a smooth launch. The role uses standardized methods to identify risks, track project timelines, and meet quality goals. Based at Stellantis’ US Headquarters and Technology Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan, this position supports the Top Hat, Platform and Modules team. The Quality Specialist develops and executes standardization of manufacturing quality enablers and applies broad knowledge of automotive engineering, manufacturing, and quality. The role requires cross-functional collaboration, strong teamwork and communication, integrity, and the ability to influence and promote solutions without direct authority. The specialist leads supplier APQP activities across all five phases, conducts supplier assessments and audits, drives root-cause analysis and corrective action, and supports supplier readiness and component quality for new product introductions. The role also analyzes quality data, manages engineering changes, conducts product evaluation tests, addresses product-related incidents, and delivers quality metrics. Travel to supplier sites is approximately 60% of the time, primarily within Europe and occasionally farther afield.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a related field.
- A minimum of 8 years of experience.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to work with people at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to collect and synthesize data into meaningful information and communicate it clearly to all organizational levels.
- Self-directed and team-oriented approach, with demonstrated planning and problem-solving skills.
- Experience managing cross-functional responsibilities in a lean organization.
- Proven track record of developing and executing standardization.
- Broad knowledge of the automotive engineering, manufacturing, and quality landscape.
- Ability to plan, prioritize, set goals, and manage multiple projects in technical and business environments.
- Ability to establish partnerships and influence others without direct authority.
- Integrity, strong teamwork and interpersonal skills, and a solutions-oriented, hands-on approach.
Responsibilities
- Lead supplier APQP activities across Plan and Define Program, Product Design and Development, Process Design and Development, Product and Process Validation, and Feedback, Assessment & Corrective Action.
- Conduct supplier assessments and audits to ensure compliance with quality standards.
- Drive root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions for APQP process implementation.
- Collaborate with engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing teams to define and improve supplier quality processes.
- Monitor supplier performance metrics and implement improvement plans.
- Support new product introductions by ensuring supplier readiness and component quality.
- Travel to supplier sites for onsite engagement and support, approximately 60% of the time.
- Analyze quality issues using problem-solving tools such as Kepner-Tregoe, Shainin Red X, and Design of Experiments.
- Recommend and implement cost-effective, permanent corrective actions.
- Analyze quality data from internal and external indicators and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Manage engineering changes with cross-functional teams to ensure timely execution.
- Conduct product evaluation tests to assess the robustness of product or process changes before full implementation.
- Serve as the point of contact for engineering quality and product-related incidents.
- Ensure delivery of third-party quality metrics.
- Develop and execute standardization in a lean, cross-functional organization.
- Plan, prioritize, set goals, and manage multiple projects in a technical and business environment.
- Support meetings at all company levels, including senior leadership, and establish internal and external partnerships.
- Represent the Voice of the Customer to platform teams and help clarify expectations, minimize political hurdles, and drive team success.
- Champion achievements and translate ideas into actions that deliver results.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
