Program War Room Manager

Pre-production Infotainment Program – War Room Manager

• Position Count: 1
• Location: Auburn Hills, MI. USA
• Role: Pre-production Infotainment Program - War Room Manager 
• Duration: 6 months (Immediate ~ Mar 2027) with possibility of extension.
• Pay Rate:  $62 per hour

Position Summary

The Pre-production Infotainment Program War Room Manager is responsible for leading the cross- functional resolution of critical infotainment system issues impacting vehicle launch readiness, production stability, and customer experience. This role drives rapid issue identification, root cause analysis, containment, and corrective action execution across the infotainment ecosystem, ensuring alignment between engineering, validation, suppliers, manufacturing, and program leadership.

The position serves as the central point of leadership for the Infotainment Program War Room , accelerating issue resolution and ensuring high-visibility launch risks are managed with urgency, discipline, and executive transparency.

The candidate must have overall 10+ years of experience in Embedded system, and minimum 5 years of experience in Android infotainment system out of which at least 2 years as experience as an architect or technical manager.

Location: Auburn Hills, MI. USA

Core Responsibilities

· Lead the “IVI only” Infotainment Program War Room, driving rapid cross-functional alignment and execution to resolve critical launch, production, and customer-impacting infotainment Issues

· Coordinate issue resolution across engineering meta-functions including software, hardware, systems engineering, validation, vehicle integration, manufacturing, supplier quality, and connected services

· Drive structured root cause analysis and corrective action development using established problem-solving methodologies (8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone, FMEA, fault tree analysis)

· Partner with Design Release Engineers (DREs), Design Systems Engineers(DSEs), software engineering teams, validation organizations, Tier 1 suppliers, and vehicle program teams to ensure timely issue closure

· Establish clear prioritization and escalation processes for high-severity launch blockers, customer-critical defects, and production disruptions

· Track and communicate issue status, risk assessments, closure plans, and escalation needs to executive leadership through regular war room governance

· Ensure effective containment actions are implemented to protect launch timing, production continuity, and customer satisfaction while permanent corrective actions are developed

· Drive issue management across the full infotainment ecosystem including (when applicable):

o Center stack displays

o Audio systems

o Projection (Apple CarPlay / Android Auto)

o Navigation

o Connectivity

o Voice systems

o Cluster integration

o Camera systems

o OTA update readiness

o OTA update readiness

o Mobile app / connected feature integration

· Support launch readiness reviews, issue triage, technical deep dives, and executive escalation forums

· Interface directly with Tier 1 suppliers and internal software organizations to drive accountability, recovery plans, and rapid execution

· Monitor key quality and launch performance metrics including defect trends, issue aging, containment effectiveness, warranty indicators, and production impacts

· Drive continuous improvement in war room operating processes, issue escalation governance, and cross-functional execution effectiveness

Critical Skills Required

Advanced System-Level Expertise

· Deep understanding of infotainment and connectivity architecture

· Strong knowledge of CAN, LIN, Automotive Ethernet, UDS diagnostics

· Understanding of OTA update systems and software flashing processes

· Ability to distinguish hardware vs. software vs. integration root causes

Data-Driven Investigation Capability

· Expert log interpretation across multiple domains

· Strong ability to correlate large data sets to customer impact

· Comfortable working with incomplete or ambiguous field data

· Strong analytical mindset under time pressure

Hands-On Technical Competence

· Vehicle instrumentation and debugging

· Bench/HIL/VHIL setup and troubleshooting

· Returned ECU log extraction and validation

· Electrical fundamentals and diagnostic tools

Structured Problem-Solving Discipline

· Demonstrated use of 8D, 5-Why, Fault Tree

· Hypothesis-driven debugging approach

· Evidence-based validation of root cause

· Strong documentation and traceability discipline

Technical Leadership & Influence

· Drives cross-functional alignment without direct authority

· Challenges assumptions with data

· Escalates risks clearly and early

· Communicates complex technical issues concisely to leadership