Job Summary:

The Senior Chassis Program Launch Manager, based in California, will lead all aspects of planning and executing Chassis-related Programs. You will work closely with Sales, Systems & Vehicle Engineering, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Customer Support and Finance.

You will be expected to lead all aspects of planning and executing the MY2026 Motiv Chassis Program, while overcoming uncertainties at all levels through detailed, hands-on leadership that motivates others through your example of proven, practical, expertise. This is a developmental role, ideal for a candidate with deep product engineering and launch experience, who wants to broaden their technical experience to business end-to-end expertise, for increased future responsibility. Though without formal supervisory responsibilities, your leadership will influence the larger cross-functional team with strong, persistent drive to deliver programs to targets of safety, quality, delivery and cost. You will be expected to travel as required to maintain a detailed understanding of real risks, mitigation, progress and effectively communicate and drive actions for program success. This is a very hands-on position reporting to the Director of Systems & Vehicle Engineering and based out of California.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop the overall Program Plan with clear milestones, deliverables, and check points with defined go/no-go success criteria. Work closely with all affected department leaders and employees as required to ensure aligned, cross-functional delivery of outcomes to challenging timing and cost targets. Ensure product requirements and validation plans adequately cover regulatory and compliance needs.
• Lead the Translation from customer requirements to product requirements to engineering specifications and seek out input from across Motiv to ensure requirements are robust to customer and stakeholder needs. Ensure core engineering has clearly defined engineering specifications.
• Ensure program plan enables effective use of Design for Engineering, Assembly, Manufacture, Supply Chain, Serviceability). Monitor New Program design and release process delivers BOM readiness to support prototype and production level parts meet program timing. Ensure appropriate releases are made in PLEX to meet program timing.
• Ensure product & process robustness through DFM/DFA, FMEA, Control Plans, APQP, serviceability, reliability actions and that tools are in place to deliver a product that meets and or exceeds customer expectations.
• Work with suppliers to lead development and release of components related to an active chassis system while meeting cost, weight, timing, and performance targets. Work with Advanced Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Manufacturing Teams to ensure supplier and launch readiness through successful prototype builds, lessons learned, control plans and work instructions.
• Provide hands-on, deep leadership and support of all prototype builds. Establish objectives and sign-off criteria for each of the prototype build stages. Ensure lessons learned from prototype and early builds are translated across departments and implemented as necessary.
• Lead vehicle validation and ensure all performance requirements are met before product launch.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Prior experience with design and release activity at major OEM or full-service supplier.
• Lead design and packaging reviews with cross functional teams.
• Solid understanding of chassis products and technology across software, controls, electrical and mechanical engineering domains as well as manufacturing, service, reliability/durability, testing and validation.
• Ability to independently work well under pressure in a fast-paced start-up/scale-up development and manufacturing cross-functional environment.
• A team player with strong communication skills. Must possess a sense of urgency. A self-starter who can independently prioritize and manage multiple competing tasks, with proactive resourcefulness, and adapt well to changing circumstances.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and collaboration – simplifying and providing practical, clearly applicable solutions - across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Able to leverage milestone reviews as effective communication of progress, risks & mitigation and decision making under uncertainty with an audience of varying leadership levels.
• Working knowledge of regulations as associated with compliance and related procedures.
• Be able to manage many project workstreams, often at the same time, through their entire life cycle in collaboration with several internal and external team members.
• Outstanding communication skills, and ability of written and verbal articulation.
• Detail-oriented, solutions-focused, with excellent, follow up and documentation.
• Work with integrity and be reliable; look for ways to improve and monitor your own work to ensure quality; meet deadlines; and ensure that work responsibilities are covered when absent.
• Work closely with both internal teams and external suppliers, using creativity and teamwork to integrate multiple systems in the most efficient way possible.
  Ensure status tracking of total program cost, weight, timing and performance.

Education and Experience:

• BS in Engineering or equivalent experience, additional degree(s) a plus.
• Minimum of 10 years, experience in chassis engineering or related field with proven experience of effectively and successfully leading new product implementation.
• Experience at automotive OEM or significant Tier 1 preferred and desirable.
• Experience in vehicle engineering, chassis systems design and component delivery.
• Understanding of NVH principles and vehicle crash safety principles.
• Experience with suspension, strut, spring, dampers and vehicle ride dynamics along with experience in technology, system and supplier selection.
• Experience working closely with both internal teams and external suppliers, using creativity and teamwork to integrate multiple systems in the most efficient way possible.
• Previous experience working with launch of complex engineered and manufactured customer product with regulatory & compliance certification requirements.
• Ability to translate own expertise in a practical and easily implementable way with maximum impact using appropriate resources.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Salary Range:

• $143,400-$196,200.00 (Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and training.)

This position is based in Foster City, CA.