The BIW / Closures Vehicle System Launch Manager will provide hands-on technical and cross-functional leadership for the BIW and Closures throughout the program.
The Launch Manager is accountable for leading the cross-functional team to meet program timing while continuously improving build quality. This includes ensuring engineering readiness, part availability, manufacturing process readiness, dimensional convergence, welding and adhesive quality, and rapid resolution of issues affecting vehicle builds.
This is an ownership role, not an issue-tracking role. The VSR is expected to identify risks early, establish priorities, drive technical decisions, remove roadblocks, and remain engaged until issues are permanently resolved and the required build quality is consistently demonstrated.
The Launch Manager will work closely with the VPE Dimensional Team to drive dimensional convergence, repeatability, measurement strategy, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement throughout the BIW / Closures program.
Key Responsibilities:
BIW / Closures Lead Leadership
- Lead the BIW / Closures BIW and Closures cross-functional team through program execution and vehicle builds.
- Serve as the Vehicle Engineering technical leader for BIW and Closures build execution.
- Establish clear cross-functional priorities and drive Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, suppliers, Dimensional, and supporting teams toward common program objectives.
- Own resolution of build issues affecting BIW, Closures, body geometry, joining, fit, function, appearance, or manufacturing execution.
- Drive the team from issue identification through containment, root cause, corrective action, validation, implementation, and effectiveness verification.
- Challenge technical conclusions when data does not demonstrate true root cause.
- Remove roadblocks and escalate barriers preventing timely technical resolution.
- Maintain ownership until the solution is implemented and proven effective.
Program Timing & Build Execution
- Lead cross-functional execution to meet BIW / Closures program timing and vehicle build milestones while improving build quality.
- Ensure engineering deliverables, parts, tooling, manufacturing processes, dimensional activities, joining processes, and validation plans are ready to support each build phase.
- Identify risks to upcoming builds early and drive recovery plans before they impact program timing.
- Establish clear owners, deliverables, and timing for critical actions.
- Drive timely resolution of engineering and manufacturing issues that threaten vehicle build execution.
- Balance program timing with engineering rigor, ensuring schedule pressure does not result in accepting unresolved or recurring quality conditions.
- Use each program build to drive measurable improvement in product and process quality.
- Ensure unresolved issues have robust containment and a clearly defined path to permanent corrective action.
- Drive issues to closure rather than carrying known problems from one build phase to the next.
Part Availability & Build Readiness
- Ensure BIW and Closures parts are available to support planned vehicle builds.
- Identify risks associated with part shortages, late components, nonconforming material, engineering changes, supplier readiness, or tooling conditions.
- Work cross-functionally to ensure components arrive at the appropriate design level, quality level, and timing to support the build.
- Drive rapid containment when necessary to protect the build while ensuring permanent corrective actions follow.
- Ensure engineering changes are properly communicated, incorporated, and validated.
- Prevent part availability or configuration issues from becoming repeated build disruptions.
Bodyshop Process & Build Quality
- Own the engineering quality of the BIW and Closures build.
- Partner with Manufacturing to ensure bodyshop processes consistently deliver the intended engineering requirements.
- Drive resolution of issues involving BIW assembly, Closures assembly, welding and joining, weld integrity, adhesives, hemming, sealing interfaces, fixtures, tooling, assembly sequence, part interfaces, body geometry, fit and function, and dimensional stability.
- Ensure manufacturing processes produce repeatable quality rather than relying on manual adjustment, repair, or rework to achieve an acceptable vehicle.
- Drive continuous reduction of build adjustments, dimensional corrections, repairs, and recurring defects.
Dimensional Control & Continuous Improvement
- Partner closely with the VPE Dimensional Team to drive BIW and Closures dimensional convergence throughout the BIW / Closures program.
- Drive vehicle-level dimensional problem solving and ensure the organization understands the true contributors to variation.
- Use dimensional and measurement data to distinguish part variation, tooling conditions, fixture conditions, joining processes, assembly process, measurement variation, and product design conditions.
- Drive effective short-loop problem solving between the bodyshop, Engineering, Manufacturing, suppliers, and dimensional/metrology teams.
- Ensure critical product characteristics are identified, measured, understood, and controlled.
- Drive improvements in dimensional repeatability and process capability, not simply achievement of nominal dimensional targets.
- Support correlation between measurement systems, fixtures, tooling, parts, subassemblies, BIW, and complete vehicle results.
- Drive corrective actions when data demonstrates instability, excessive variation, or dimensional drift.
- Ensure dimensional lessons learned are incorporated into product, tooling, and manufacturing process improvements.
Welding, Adhesive & Joining Quality
- Ensure welding and joining processes meet engineering and manufacturing requirements.
- Drive resolution of weld-quality issues, including assessment of process conditions, tooling, equipment, material interfaces, and product design.
- Ensure appropriate weld validation and verification are completed.
- Drive resolution of adhesive-related concerns including application, bead location, coverage, material condition, process execution, and design interfaces.
- Work cross-functionally with Engineering and Manufacturing to ensure joining processes are capable, repeatable, and robust.
- Ensure corrective actions address the underlying failure mechanism rather than relying on additional inspection or repair.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Welding Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience
- Strong automotive engineering or manufacturing experience, preferably involving BIW, Closure Systems, bodyshop operations, dimensional engineering, or vehicle launch.
- Strong working knowledge of bodyshop manufacturing processes and assembly sequencing.
- Demonstrated technical knowledge of BIW construction and assembly, closure systems, dimensional control, GD&T, measurement systems, weld processes and validation, adhesive and joining processes, BIW tooling and fixtures, dimensional variation and repeatability, and structured root-cause analysis.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams in a fast-paced vehicle launch environment.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Strong communication and leadership capability with the ability to establish priorities, drive accountability, and escalate when necessary.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Previous vehicle launch experience in a BIW, Closures, Dimensional, Manufacturing, or Vehicle Engineering role.
- Hands-on experience working in or supporting an automotive bodyshop.
- Experience with resistance spot welding and weld-quality validation.
- Knowledge of structural adhesives, hemming, sealing, and body assembly processes.
- Experience with dimensional measurement systems such as CMM, laser scanning, and inline vision/measurement systems.
- Understanding of SPC, process capability, dimensional variation, datum strategies, fixture/tooling validation, and measurement correlation.
- Experience applying structured problem-solving methods such as 8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa/Fishbone, DMAIC, DOE, and statistical analysis.
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt is a plus.
- Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering and manufacturing teams
Our Benefits - Designed with You in Mind
Comprehensive Health & Well-being Coverage
From your very first day, you'll have access to medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage - ensuring you and your family stay healthy and protected.
Generous Paid Time Off
We believe in work-life balance. That's why we offer: 17+ paid holidays, including shut-down from December 24th through New Years Day every year. Vacation, float & wellbeing days, sick time and fully paid parental leave when your family needs you most.
Competitive Retirement Savings Plans
We help you plan for the future with:
- An employer match on contributions to your 401k, Roth, and Catch-Up plans
- An employer contribution, even if you don't contribute
Income Protection & Insurance Options
Benefit from included and optional disability, life, and other insurance programs - because your peace of mind matters.
Company Vehicle Lease Program
Eligible employees and their immediate families can enjoy company vehicle lease options with included insurance, maintenance, and unlimited mileage. Plus, take advantage of exclusive discounts on Stellantis products.
Family Building Benefit
We proudly support all paths to parenthood- including fertility and infertility treatments, adoption services, and gestational surrogacy.
Support for Your Growth and Giving Back
We believe in investing in your future and your passions:
- Tuition reimbursement
- Student loan refinancing programs
- 18 paid volunteer hours each year to make a difference in your community
And so much more!
When you join us, you're not just building a career - you're joining a company that supports you, inside and outside of work.