Description
As the Plant Vehicle Team (PVT) Supervisor, you will be the "first line of defense" for vehicle quality , the critical link between our global Product Development team in Dearborn and manufacturing operations on the plant floor.
You will lead a small local team responsible for delivering key vehicle attributes (Ride & Handling, Powertrain NVH, Wind/Road Noise, Squeak & Rattle, Vehicle Alignment, and EV range), directly shaping customer satisfaction and warranty performance.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Quality Ownership
Lead delivery of internal and external quality targets (warranty, JD Power IQS, launch spike avoidance) Own Vehicle Engineering (VE) quality assessments, forecasting, and forward-model program quality roadmaps for LAP Manage online quality systems, tracking project inputs, health, and glidepaths Maintain critical quality documentation for vehicle subsystems and functional groups; prepare and present quality reports to all levels of management Lead Ride & Handling, Powertrain NVH, Wind/Road Noise, Squeak & Rattle, and EV range efforts to meet quality targets (customer surveys and warranty), partnering with functional and manufacturing teams
- Data Analysis & Diagnosis
Lead data-driven and plant-floor analysis of current-model quality concerns, using warranty data, customer feedback, and daily quality reports Utilize Variability Reduction Teams (VRT) health charts and critical-X monitoring to prioritize actions driving the largest R/1000 reductions Champion more analytical, statistically-driven approaches to issue identification and resolution
- Corrective Action & Issue Resolution
Lead root cause investigation and develop/deliver interim corrective actions, permanent corrective actions, and recurrence prevention actions; institutionalize lessons learned and preventive actions Manage disposition of vehicle-level issues to the appropriate engineering teams Manage stop ships/stop builds, quality campaigns, audits, and related product holds Escalate "Help Needed" issues and critical concerns through core engineering meetings; issue Engineering Alerts and pursue Engineering Concern authorization as needed
- Launch & Program Support
Serve as on-site PVT VE lead, coordinating California and Dearborn, MI-based teams Support engineering change trials, running changes, and vehicle testing Lead vehicle drive evaluations and completion of launch control plan testing, resolving static and dynamic issues Support plant and PD cost reduction and quality improvement efforts, eliminating non-value-added activities
- Cross-Functional Engagement & Communication
Partner with Plant Engineering, Product Development, Vehicle Program Engineers, Quality Offices, Supplier Technical Assistance, Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Program Teams, Subject Matter Experts, suppliers, hourly personnel, and all levels of management to drive quality Chair/support local and Dearborn-based VE/Product Development team meetings Lead report-outs to senior/executive leadership and onsite quality management reviews
- Operational & Facility Management
Manage vehicle evaluation & assessment drives Resolve facility equipment issues (Alignment machines, tire line, squeak & rattle 4-poster, air leakage equipment, etc.)
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial) or equivalent degree
- 5+ years combined experience in vehicle engineering, high-volume manufacturing (automotive preferred), or related product development
- Must be available for travel (<1x per month) to visit suppliers or Dearborn
- Demonstrated proficiency in troubleshooting complex technical issues, methodical data analysis, and statistical methods
- Proven understanding of vehicle evaluation principles, driving dynamics, and assessment methodologies
- Proven ability to lead assembly plant/supplier teams through implementation of vehicle improvements
- Highly motivated self-starter, able to work autonomously and lead a team toward common goals; comfortable multi-tasking in a fast-changing environment
- Experience with software systems such as CAD tools, quality tracking tools, JIRA (or ability to quickly learn evolving systems)
Benefits
- Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
- Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
- Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
- Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
- Tuition assistance
- Established and active employee resource groups
- Paid time off for individual and team community service
- A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
- Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time