Position Summary
The Launch Engineer is responsible for leading and coordinating new product launches from program award through successful production implementation. This position serves as a key liaison between customers, suppliers, manufacturing, quality, tooling, and program management to ensure all launch milestones are achieved on time and within budget.
The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment and possess exceptional organizational, project management, and communication skills.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage new product launches from quote award through production readiness and safe launch activities.
- Coordinate cross-functional launch activities between Engineering, Production, Quality, Maintenance, Materials, and Program Management teams.
- Develop, maintain, and communicate detailed launch timelines and project schedules.
- Track and ensure completion of all customer milestones, APQP deliverables, and internal launch requirements.
- Lead launch meetings and provide regular status updates to management and customers.
- Coordinate tooling build activities, tool trials, mold qualifications, and production readiness reviews.
- Support manufacturing process development for injection molding, assembly, and paint operations.
- Collaborate with Quality teams to ensure PPAP submissions are completed on time and meet customer requirements.
- Coordinate equipment installation, validation, run-at-rate activities, and production trials.
- Identify launch risks and develop countermeasures to maintain program timing and deliverables.
- Facilitate prototype and pre-production builds to verify process capability and readiness.
- Work closely with customers, particularly General Motors, to address engineering changes, launch concerns, and timing requirements.
- Support implementation and tracking of engineering changes throughout the product lifecycle.
- Participate in safe launch and launch containment activities as required.
- Travel occasionally to customers, suppliers, and tooling locations.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field preferred.
- Minimum 3-5 years of automotive manufacturing or launch experience.
- Experience supporting Tier 1 automotive supplier operations.
- Experience with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, and customer launch requirements.
- Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Project, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with process validation, run-at-rate events, and capacity planning.
- Knowledge of GD&T, SPC, and MSA.
- Experience with ERP and project management systems.
Key Competencies
- Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple launch programs simultaneously.
- Strong attention to detail and follow-through on commitments and deadlines while working with cross-functional teams to achieve launch objectives.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, and all levels of the organization.
- Ability to present launch status, risks, and recovery plans to leadership.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to walk production floors for extended periods.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to travel as required to support launch activities.
Performance Expectations
Success in this role will be measured by:
- On-time execution of launch milestones.
- Successful PPAP submissions and customer approvals.
- Achievement of production readiness targets.
- Effective management of engineering changes.
- Launches completed with minimal disruption to production and customer schedules.
- High levels of customer satisfaction and program performance.