Project Quality Manager Lead – Propulsion Systems

The Project Quality Manager Lead – PRS System (PQM) is a program-oriented leadership role responsible for defining, integrating, and executing the quality strategy across the partial to full propulsion system program lifecycle. This position operates at the intersection of** Program Management and Quality**, ensuring alignment between quality deliverables, program timing, cost, and risk objectives.

The PQM drives cross-functional convergence, ensures disciplined execution of program milestones, and proactively manages risks and dependencies to ensure successful program launches and sustained customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities Program Management & Governance (Enhanced Focus)

• Act as the Quality lead within the Program Management structure, ensuring alignment of quality deliverables with overall program timing, cost, and scope objectives

• Drive program governance for quality, including milestone readiness, risk reviews, and escalation management

• Lead cross-functional program reviews, ensuring quality risks, issues, and actions are clearly defined, tracked, and resolved

• Develop and maintain integrated program quality plans aligned with master schedules and key deliverables

• Ensure structured risk identification, mitigation planning, and execution tracking throughout the lifecycle

• Support decision-making by providing data-driven quality insights and trade-off analysis to program leadership

Quality Planning & Execution

• Define and implement the quality plan, ensuring rigorous execution across the full program lifecycle

• Lead quality convergence from early concept through six months post-SOP

• Oversee development and management of quality targets, forecasts, risks, and customer satisfaction metrics

• Ensure effective integration of APQP(Advanced Product Quality Planning) and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) deliverables at the sub-system to system level

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as a key interface between engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and program teams, ensuring alignment and accountability

• Drive collaboration across stakeholders including vehicle programs, and industrial teams

• Lead structured problem-solving efforts and ensure closure through standardized methodologies

Risk, Issue, and Change Management

• Proactively manage program risks and quality issues, including escalation, containment, root cause analysis, and corrective actions

• Ensure lessons learned are captured and systematically applied to current and future programs

• Manage deviations and ensure compliance with mandatory requirements (IAA)

Program Deliverables & Reporting

• Ensure readiness and completeness of program milestone deliverables and acceptance reviews

• Prepare and deliver program-level quality reporting, including KPIs, risk status, and action plans

• Document design assessments and evaluate customer impact of deviations

Launch & Post-Launch Support

• Ensure achievement of quality targets for launches and secondary programs

• Lead field early warning systems (FEW) and drive rapid response where required

• Support industrialization quality assessments in coordination with plant and industrial quality teams

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent

• Minimum of 5 years of experience demonstrating Project and Program Management relative to Quality roles within the automotive industry

• Strong knowledge of program management disciplines (timing, risk management, milestone governance)

• Proficiency in quality tools, methodologies, and customer claim management

Program & Leadership Capabilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional programs or major workstreams with accountability for delivery

• Strong experience in risk management, issue resolution, and escalation handling within complex programs

• Proven ability to operate within structured program governance frameworks

• Capable of balancing competing priorities across quality, cost, and timing constraints Strategic & Analytical Thinking

• Ability to translate program objectives into actionable quality strategies and execution plans

• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills with a program-level perspective Teamwork & Communication

• Excellent management and communication skills across all organizational levels

• Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across diverse teams