# Launch and Central Engineering Area Manager

**Company**: Ford
**Location**: Cuautitlan, MEX
**Work arrangement**: onsite
**Experience**: senior
**Job type**: full-time
**Category**: Manufacturing
**Industry**: Automotive

**Apply**: https://efds.fa.em5.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/69753?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply
**Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_67d1703d-180

## Description

Lead new product launches and Central Engineering capabilities for the plant, connecting product strategy with strong manufacturing execution.

The position integrates two main responsibilities: ensuring successful launches of new programs, meeting safety, quality, timing, cost, and production ramp-up objectives; and developing the engineering capabilities, infrastructure, equipment, and processes needed to support current and future plant operations.

The goal is simple: successfully launch the next product while building the manufacturing capability needed for the one after it.

## Responsibilities

- Lead the execution of new programs from manufacturing preparation through start of production and volume stabilization.

- Direct and develop the Launch and Central Engineering organizations, setting priorities and driving effective collaboration between the plant, program teams, and corporate functions.

- Manage the master launch plan, budget, resources, risks, and governance mechanisms needed to meet program objectives.

- Lead the preparation and execution of prototypes, pre-series builds, manufacturing validation events, readiness assessments, and production ramp-up plans.

- Represent the voice of the plant to program teams and coordinate the resolution and escalation of risks that could affect safety, quality, cost, timing, or volume.

- Lead the Central Engineering strategy related to installed capacity, infrastructure, facilities, and the integration and release of new equipment and processes.

- Ensure engineering projects deliver solutions that are safe, capable, maintainable, efficient, and production-ready.

- Drive continuous improvement, innovation, automation, and new manufacturing technologies that increase the plant's competitiveness.

## Qualifications

- Professional degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.

- Relevant experience in automotive manufacturing, preferably in new product launch, manufacturing engineering, operations, or technical project management.

- Experience leading cross-functional teams in high-complexity environments.

- Ability to manage projects, priorities, resources, risks, and budgets with a results-oriented approach.

- Knowledge of manufacturing systems, quality, process capability, and continuous improvement.

- Advanced English for interacting with global teams.

_**Nice to have:**_

- Experience with structured product development and automotive launch systems.

- Experience in Advanced Product Quality Planning, manufacturing & production readiness, and ramp-up.

- Experience in capacity planning, layouts, facilities, commissioning, or new equipment implementation.

- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, FMEA, Control Plans, and problem-solving methodologies.

- Experience managing capital projects and engineering budgets.

- Master's degree or additional training in business administration, engineering, or project management.

## Skills

### Required
- Engineering
- Project Management
- Manufacturing Systems
- Quality
- Process Capability
- Continuous Improvement
- English

### Nice to have
- Structured Product Development
- Automotive Launch Systems
- Advanced Product Quality Planning
- Lean Manufacturing
- Six Sigma
- FMEA
- Control Plans
- Capital Project Management
- Business Administration

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