Vehicle Systems Launch Manager

Stellantis•Auburn Hills, MI

About The Position

The BIW / Closures Vehicle System Launch Manager provides hands-on technical and cross-functional leadership for Body-in-White (BIW) and Closures throughout the program. The role leads the cross-functional team to meet program timing while continuously improving build quality. It owns engineering readiness, part availability, manufacturing process readiness, dimensional convergence, welding and adhesive quality, and rapid resolution of issues affecting vehicle builds. This is an ownership role rather than an issue-tracking role. The Launch Manager identifies risks early, establishes priorities, drives technical decisions, removes roadblocks, and remains engaged until issues are permanently resolved and required build quality is consistently demonstrated. The role works closely with the VPE Dimensional Team on dimensional convergence, repeatability, measurement strategy, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement throughout the BIW / Closures program.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Welding Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Minimum of 10 years of experience.
Strong automotive engineering or manufacturing experience, preferably involving BIW, Closure Systems, bodyshop operations, dimensional engineering, or vehicle launch.
Strong working knowledge of bodyshop manufacturing processes and assembly sequencing.
Demonstrated technical knowledge of BIW construction and assembly, closure systems, dimensional control, GD&T, measurement systems, weld processes and validation, adhesive and joining processes, BIW tooling and fixtures, dimensional variation and repeatability, and structured root-cause analysis.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams in a fast-paced vehicle launch environment.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Strong communication and leadership capability, including the ability to establish priorities, drive accountability, and escalate when necessary.

Nice To Haves

Previous vehicle launch experience in a BIW, Closures, Dimensional, Manufacturing, or Vehicle Engineering role.
Hands-on experience working in or supporting an automotive bodyshop.
Experience with resistance spot welding and weld-quality validation.
Knowledge of structural adhesives, hemming, sealing, and body assembly processes.
Experience with dimensional measurement systems such as CMM, laser scanning, and inline vision/measurement systems.
Understanding of SPC, process capability, dimensional variation, datum strategies, fixture/tooling validation, and measurement correlation.
Experience applying structured problem-solving methods such as 8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa/Fishbone, DMAIC, DOE, and statistical analysis.
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt is a plus.
Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering and manufacturing teams.

Responsibilities

Lead the BIW and Closures cross-functional team through program execution and vehicle builds, serving as the Vehicle Engineering technical leader for build execution.
Establish cross-functional priorities and align Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, suppliers, Dimensional, and supporting teams around program objectives.
Own build-issue resolution involving BIW, Closures, body geometry, joining, fit, function, appearance, or manufacturing execution; drive issues through containment, root cause, corrective action, validation, implementation, and effectiveness verification.
Challenge technical conclusions when supporting data does not establish the true root cause; remove roadblocks and escalate barriers to timely resolution.
Maintain ownership until solutions are implemented and proven effective.
Lead cross-functional execution to meet program timing and vehicle build milestones while improving build quality.
Ensure engineering deliverables, parts, tooling, manufacturing processes, dimensional activities, joining processes, and validation plans are ready for each build phase.
Identify risks to upcoming builds early and drive recovery plans, clear action owners, deliverables, and timing.
Balance schedule demands with engineering rigor; ensure unresolved issues have robust containment and a path to permanent corrective action, and drive issues to closure between build phases.
Use program builds to drive measurable improvement in product and process quality.
Ensure BIW and Closures parts are available at the appropriate design level, quality level, and timing for planned builds.
Identify and address risks involving shortages, late components, nonconforming material, engineering changes, supplier readiness, or tooling conditions; coordinate containment and permanent corrective actions as needed.
Ensure engineering changes are communicated, incorporated, and validated, preventing part availability or configuration issues from repeatedly disrupting builds.
Own engineering quality for BIW and Closures and partner with Manufacturing so bodyshop processes consistently meet engineering requirements.
Drive resolution of issues involving BIW and Closures assembly, welding and joining, weld integrity, adhesives, hemming, sealing interfaces, fixtures, tooling, assembly sequence, part interfaces, body geometry, fit and function, and dimensional stability.
Ensure manufacturing processes produce repeatable quality rather than relying on manual adjustment, repair, or rework; reduce build adjustments, dimensional corrections, repairs, and recurring defects.
Partner with the VPE Dimensional Team to drive BIW and Closures dimensional convergence and vehicle-level problem solving.
Use dimensional and measurement data to identify contributors to variation, including parts, tooling, fixtures, joining and assembly processes, measurement variation, and product design.
Drive short-loop problem solving among bodyshop, Engineering, Manufacturing, suppliers, and dimensional/metrology teams; ensure critical product characteristics are identified, measured, understood, and controlled.
Improve dimensional repeatability and process capability; support measurement correlation across systems, fixtures, tooling, parts, subassemblies, BIW, and complete vehicles.
Drive corrective actions for instability, excessive variation, or dimensional drift and incorporate dimensional lessons learned into product, tooling, and manufacturing process improvements.
Ensure welding and joining processes meet engineering and manufacturing requirements; resolve weld-quality issues by assessing process conditions, tooling, equipment, material interfaces, and product design.
Ensure appropriate weld validation and verification; address adhesive concerns involving application, bead location, coverage, material condition, process execution, and design interfaces.
Work with Engineering and Manufacturing to ensure joining processes are capable, repeatable, and robust, with corrective actions addressing underlying failure mechanisms rather than relying on added inspection or repair.