Senior Launch Engineer

Tenneco•Blacksburg, VA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Launch Engineer leads the introduction of new products, processes, equipment, and engineering changes into the Blacksburg manufacturing operation. The role provides technical and project leadership from initial planning through production readiness, validation, and stabilization, ensuring launch objectives are achieved safely, on time, within budget, and in line with customer and quality requirements. The position works closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Operations, suppliers, customers, and corporate engineering teams. It also provides technical guidance to engineers and launch team members and supports continuous improvement in manufacturing efficiency, process capability, quality, cost, and launch performance. This is primarily an on-site position in a manufacturing environment, with regular interaction with production operations and equipment. Flexibility to support critical launch activities outside normal business hours may be needed, and occasional travel to suppliers, customers, or other company facilities may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Five or more years of progressive engineering experience, preferably in automotive or high-volume manufacturing.
Demonstrated experience leading new product, equipment, or manufacturing process launches.
Strong working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving.
Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, risks, and cross-functional deliverables.
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot manufacturing processes and resolve complex technical issues.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate with shop-floor employees, engineers, suppliers, customers, and leadership.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and applicable engineering and manufacturing systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience within the automotive manufacturing industry.
Working knowledge of IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 environments.
Six Sigma Green Belt or similar continuous improvement certification.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing principles and structured continuous improvement.
Experience launching new manufacturing lines, automated equipment, tooling, or significant process changes.
Experience working in a unionized manufacturing environment.
Familiarity with CAD and ERP/MES systems applicable to manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

Lead new product and manufacturing process launches from concept through production readiness and stabilization.
Develop and manage launch plans covering timing, milestones, resources, deliverables, risks, and escalation requirements.
Serve as the primary engineering lead for assigned launch programs and provide technical direction throughout the launch process.
Coordinate activities across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and other functions.
Lead prototype builds, pre-production trials, equipment runoffs, process validations, and production readiness activities.
Drive APQP deliverables and support PPAP requirements, PFMEAs, Control Plans, process flows, work instructions, and related launch documentation.
Identify launch risks and develop mitigation and contingency plans.
Lead technical problem-solving and root cause analysis for equipment, process, quality, capacity, and manufacturing issues.
Coordinate Engineering Change Notice implementation and ensure changes are validated before production implementation.
Participate in design reviews and provide Design for Manufacturability feedback to product and design engineering teams.
Support installation, commissioning, qualification, and ramp-up of new manufacturing equipment and processes.
Monitor launch performance, including quality, scrap, cycle time, throughput, downtime, and process capability.
Track launch milestones, open issues, corrective actions, and readiness status, and communicate risks to plant and corporate leadership.
Support customer technical requirements and resolve launch-related quality or manufacturing concerns.
Coordinate with suppliers and equipment vendors when technical support or corrective action is required.
Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency, process capability, quality, cost, and launch performance.
Provide technical guidance and mentoring to engineers and other launch team members, as appropriate.