Sr. Program Manager
Who We Are:
Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations.
Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!
Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!
Who We Want:
We are seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager to lead key customer programs from concept through full production launch. This individual will manage cross-functional teams, ensuring program deliverables meet or exceed customer expectations in timing, quality, and cost. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong launch discipline, technical understanding, and communication skills—capable of managing complex, high-volume automotive programs within a Tier 1 manufacturing environment.
What You'll Do:
- Lead assigned programs through all phases—concept, design, build, validation, launch, and handoff to production.
- Manage all aspects of program timing, open issues, and deliverables to ensure successful launch execution.
- Serve as the primary point of contact between Challenge and the customer for engineering, quality, and launch-related activities.
- Coordinate cross-functional support from Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Finance teams.
- Track and report program status using timing charts, KPI dashboards, and issue-tracking tools.
- Identify risks early and implement corrective and preventive actions to maintain launch readiness.
- Support financial tracking and cost management in partnership with Finance and Engineering.
- Ensure APQP, PPAP, and related customer requirements are properly executed.
- Conduct post-launch reviews and contribute to continuous improvement of launch processes.
- Promote a culture of accountability, communication, and collaboration within program teams.
When and Where:
This position is located at our Corporate Office in Walker, MI.
Occasionally, this may require you to arrive early, stay late, or work on weekends, outside of our regular hours, to ensure we successfully meet customer needs, deadlines, or urgent requests.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical/Controls, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent).
- 7+ years of automotive experience, preferably in stamping, welding, or assembly operations.
- 5+ years of program or project management experience in a Tier 1 automotive environment.
- Demonstrated success managing multiple OEM customer programs.
- Strong understanding of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, and GD&T.
- Proficient in Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, PLEX.
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
- Proven ability to manage competing priorities and drive results in fast-paced settings.
- Ability to travel up to 50%
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or Program Management.
- PMP certification or equivalent.
- Experience with Power BI, Smartsheet, or other digital launch tracking tools.
- Exposure to EV platforms or next-generation vehicle programs.
- Familiarity with multi-plant coordination and continuous improvement frameworks.
What We Offer:
We’re excited to offer a range of awesome benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions, Flexible Spending Accounts, company-paid Short-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance, Voluntary Life and Long-Term Disability options, an Employer 401k Match, ESOP shares, tuition reimbursement, a Referral Bonus Program, Challenge Incentive Program, and paid time off.
Please note, while these benefits are part of what we offer, they may not all apply to this specific role. The details shared in this job description are intended to give you a general idea, but duties and responsibilities may evolve over time, with or without notice. And of course, we’re happy to provide reasonable accommodations to help individuals with disabilities succeed in their role.
