Project Quality Manager - Propulsion Systems

The Project Quality Manager – PRS System (PQM) is a program-oriented leadership role responsible for defining, integrating, and executing the quality strategy across the partial to full propulsion system program lifecycle. This position operates at the intersection of Program Management and Quality, ensuring alignment between quality deliverables, program timing, cost, and risk objectives.

The PQM drives cross-functional convergence, ensures disciplined execution of program milestones, and proactively manages risks and dependencies to ensure successful program launches and sustained customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Management & Governance (Enhanced Focus)

• Act as the Quality lead within the Program Management structure, ensuring alignment of quality deliverables with overall program timing, cost, and scope objectives
• Drive program governance for quality, including milestone readiness, risk reviews, and escalation management
• Lead cross-functional program reviews, ensuring quality risks, issues, and actions are clearly defined, tracked, and resolved
• Develop and maintain integrated program quality plans aligned with master schedules and key deliverables
• Ensure structured risk identification, mitigation planning, and execution tracking throughout the lifecycle
• Support decision-making by providing data-driven quality insights and trade-off analysis to program leadership

Quality Planning & Execution

• Define and implement the quality plan, ensuring rigorous execution across the full program lifecycle
• Lead quality convergence from early concept through six months post-SOP
• Oversee development and management of quality targets, forecasts, risks, and customer satisfaction metrics
• Ensure effective integration of APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) deliverables at the sub-system to system level

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as a key interface between engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and program teams, ensuring alignment and accountability
• Drive collaboration across stakeholders including vehicle programs, and industrial teams
• Lead structured problem-solving efforts and ensure closure through standardized methodologies

Risk, Issue, and Change Management

• Proactively manage program risks and quality issues, including escalation, containment, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
• Ensure lessons learned are captured and systematically applied to current and future programs
• Manage deviations and ensure compliance with mandatory requirements (IAA)

Program Deliverables & Reporting

• Ensure readiness and completeness of program milestone deliverables and acceptance reviews
• Prepare and deliver program-level quality reporting, including KPIs, risk status, and action plans
• Document design assessments and evaluate customer impact of deviations

Launch & Post-Launch Support

• Ensure achievement of quality targets for launches and secondary programs
• Lead field early warning systems (FEW) and drive rapid response where required
• Support industrialization quality assessments in coordination with plant and industrial quality teams

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent technical degree
• 5+ years of experience demonstrating Project and Program Management relative to Quality roles within the automotive industry
• Strong knowledge of program management disciplines (timing, risk management, milestone governance)
• Proficiency in quality tools, methodologies, and customer claim management

Program & Leadership Capabilities  

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional programs or major workstreams with accountability for delivery
• Strong experience in risk management, issue resolution, and escalation handling within complex programs
• Proven ability to operate within structured program governance frameworks
• Capable of balancing competing priorities across quality, cost, and timing constraints

Strategic & Analytical Thinking

• Ability to translate program objectives into actionable quality strategies and execution plans
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills with a program-level perspective

Teamwork & Communication

• Excellent management and communication skills across all organizational levels
• Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across diverse teams