Program Launch Lead Engineer

ASTEMO AMERICAS, INC.Engineering

Job Description:

Position Summary

The Program Launch Lead Engineer is responsible for leading, coordinating, and tracking the successful introduction of new products, new models, manufacturing processes, equipment, and production lines at the manufacturing site. This includes new-product launches on new equipment or lines, as well as model changes, process changes, and capacity expansions on existing production lines.

This position serves as the leader for program launch activities and ensures that all launch requirements are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with customer requirements and company standards. Program Launch Lead Engineer will coordinate activities across all site functions and serve as the primary connection between the manufacturing site, global cross-functional teams, corporate functions, suppliers, and customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead site-level planning and execution for new-product launches, new-model introductions, process changes, equipment installations, and production-line expansions.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate detailed launch schedules, milestones, readiness reviews, action-item lists, and escalation plans.
• Track program-launch activities to ensure all required approvals, reviews, validations, documentation, and company best practices are completed.
• Lead pre-build planning meetings with the cross-functional team to ensure each prototype, sample, trial, validation, and production build is properly planned and supported.
• Confirm that the site has the necessary manpower, materials, tooling, equipment, quality documentation, production controls, and technical support for each scheduled build.
• Coordinate launch activities across Production, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Human Resources, Safety, Finance, and other supporting departments.
• Ensure each build accomplishes its stated objectives for customer shipment, product validation, data collection, process development, equipment verification, and production readiness.
• Monitor material availability, equipment readiness, tooling status, process documentation, quality requirements, operator training, production capacity, and customer deliverables.
• Identify risks, gaps, and barriers that could affect launch timing, cost, quality, safety, or customer requirements, and lead the development of effective countermeasures.
• Escalate critical issues to site leadership, program teams, and appropriate corporate or global functions when additional support or decisions are required.
• Lead site launch-readiness reviews and provide clear status updates to site management, program leadership, global cross-functional teams, and customers.
• Support production trials, sample builds, process validations, run-at-rate activities, customer audits, and the transition from launch status to stable mass production.
• Ensure all lessons learned, open issues, process changes, and launch documentation are properly recorded and communicated.
• Promote compliance with company standards related to safety, quality, production, change management, documentation, and continuous improvement.
• Provide direction and mentorship to site team members supporting program-launch activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by site or department management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, product launches, project management, and cross-functional program execution.
• Ability to manage multiple programs, priorities, schedules, and competing deadlines.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment readiness, quality validation, change management, and production-launch requirements.
• Ability to identify program risks, develop recovery plans, and drive open items to timely closure.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with production employees, technical teams, senior management, suppliers, global teams, and customers.
• Ability to lead meetings, clearly communicate expectations, assign responsibilities, and hold team members accountable for deliverables.
• Proficiency with standard project-management and reporting tools.
• Ability to interpret program schedules, technical documents, customer requirements, process documentation, and performance data.
• Ability to perform all duties in an ethical, professional, and confidential manner.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Project Management, Business, or a related field is preferred. A combination of relevant education, technical training, and significant manufacturing-launch experience may also be considered.

Experience

• Five or more years of related experience in manufacturing, program launch, engineering, project management, operations, or a similar area is preferred.
• Previous experience leading new-product launches, model changes, equipment installations, or process introductions in a manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
• Previous experience working with cross-functional, global, supplier, or customer teams is preferred.

Job level will be determined based on factors such as organizational size, scope of responsibility, career stage, experience, and demonstrated capabilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) – Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity, disability, protected veteran status and national origin.

At Astemo, we’re challenging the status quo with the power of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. Our goal is to build an inclusive work environment that celebrates the differences of our employees. We want to ensure that every employee feels valued, respected and empowered. We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Astemo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at Astemo, please send the nature of the request and contact information to [email protected] when applying for the position.