Project Chief

Project Chief – Exterior Trim | Vehicle Body Systems

Join a team at the forefront of automotive innovation, where you'll take full ownership of a critical vehicle system from concept through production — coordinating engineering disciplines, driving timelines, and leading a program that directly shapes the vehicles on the road today.

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Job Title: Project Chief – Exterior Trim
Job Type: Contract
Location: Auburn Hills, MI
Pay Range: $56.57/hr

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Job Overview

Are you an experienced automotive engineer who thrives on ownership, coordination, and seeing a program through from concept to production? As Project Chief for Exterior Trim, you'll lead and coordinate the design, development, and validation activities for exterior trim systems — fascias, bumpers, cladding, moldings, badges, and other exterior components — on assigned vehicle programs. This role matters because you'll be the single point of accountability representing the entire Exterior Trim group on your program, partnering closely with the Vehicle Systems Representative to ensure the vehicle launches on time, on budget, and to spec. This is an ideal fit for a seasoned Design & Release Engineer, Development Lead, or Program Engineering professional who is ready to step into a high-visibility individual contributor role with real cross-functional leadership impact.

️ What's the Job?

• Lead and coordinate design, development, and validation activities for Exterior Trim systems on assigned vehicle programs
• Own and coordinate all exterior trim components for a specific vehicle, meeting quality, cost, investment, weight, timing, and technical objectives
• Coordinate supplier and sourcing activities, resolve issues, and author source packages
• Manage GIMS and part change management, including cost collaboration
• Oversee Engineering Design & Development (EDD) management
• Provide matrix leadership to assigned design and development engineers, including 3 direct sub-discipline managers
• Partner closely with the Vehicle Systems Representative (VSR), taking direction to align efforts across all functional body groups
• Communicate program status, timing, cost, and launch risks to senior leadership
• Support vehicle development and launch activities from concept through production

✅ What's Needed?

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field
• 5-7+ years of engineering design and development experience (stronger candidates with additional experience will be considered)
• Automotive engineering experience required
• Experience with vehicle development and launch activities from concept through production
• Hands-on experience with exterior trim systems, including fascias/bumpers, cladding, moldings, badges, or other exterior plastic components
• Strong program/project coordination experience within automotive product development
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with confidence presenting to senior management
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Ability to work and lead in a team environment
• Background in roles such as Project Chief, Development Lead, Design Lead, Design & Release Engineer, or Program Engineering supporting vehicle launches

What's in it for me?

This role offers the opportunity to take true ownership of a vehicle program's exterior trim systems, working at the intersection of engineering, sourcing, and program leadership. You'll gain high-visibility experience coordinating across multiple business units and engineering disciplines, presenting directly to senior leadership, and leading a program from concept all the way through to production launch.

Benefits

Medical and Prescription Drug Plans
Dental Plan
Vision Plan
Health Savings Account
Health Flexible Spending Account
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
Supplemental Life Insurance
Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
Business Travel Insurance
401(k), Plus Match
Weekly Pay

Ready to Lead a Program from Concept to Production?

If you're ready to bring your automotive engineering expertise to a high-impact leadership role, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today!

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About ManpowerGroup, Parent Company of: Manpower, Experis, Talent Solutions, and Jefferson Wells. ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, Talent Solutions, and Jefferson Wells – creates substantial value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity - as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality and Disability and in 2023 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 14th year - all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.