Automotive Program Manager Jobs in Athens, GA (NOW HIRING)

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities

Production Engineering Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of Production Engineers supporting machining, plastic molding, assembly, and test operations.
• Set directional strategy for production engineering aligned with plant safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Build a strong engineering culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.

Manufacturing Support

• Oversee manufacturing processes, including precision aluminum and steel machining, plastic injection molding, mechanical assembly, ECU programming, and functional testing.
• Ensure robust process design, line balancing, errorproofing (pokayoke), and automation to support highvolume, highquality production.
• Support manufacturability for aluminum housings, gear mechanisms, pump mechanisms, and electronic control integration.

New Product Launch & Production Readiness

• Lead production readiness for new product launches including process validation, PFMEA, control plans, runatrate, and capacity confirmation.
• Partner with Product Design Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Program Management to transition products from development to mass production.
• Review and approve engineering changes related to process, tooling, and equipment.

Capital Projects & Equipment Strategy

• Develop and manage capital budgets for new equipment, automation, and line expansions.
• Lead capital projects from concept through installation, commissioning, and handover to operations.
• Collaborate with equipment suppliers and integrators for assembly, testing, and traceability systems.

Continuous Improvement & Cost Reduction

• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and problemsolving initiatives to improve productivity, quality, and throughput.
• Lead rootcause analysis for production losses, quality escapes, and customer concerns related to steering systems.
• Identify and implement costreduction opportunities without compromising safety or quality.

CrossFunctional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Safety teams to achieve plant KPIs.
• Support customer audits, internal audits, and technical reviews related to power steering manufacturing.
• Act as the primary engineering escalation point for complex production issues.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related).
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing or production engineering within the automotive or Tier1 supplier industry.
• 5+ years of peoplemanagement experience leading engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of highvolume manufacturing processes for electromechanical and mechanical products.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, PFMEA, Control Plans, and IATF 16949 requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering or Business Administration.
• Experience with Hydraulic Pumps, Electronic Power Steering (EPS), steerbywire, or advanced steering systems for automobiles.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Familiarity with automated assembly, endofline functional testing, and traceability systems.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and decisionmaking ability
• Datadriven problem solving
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fastpaced manufacturing environment
• Handson technical mindset with strategic perspective

Manage Production Engineering Associates, including hiring, training, counseling and discipline, performance appraisal, and assigning/prioritizing all work for subordinates.

Required to sit or stand and move about the facility. Occasional lifting of items not to exceed 50 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Combination of office and plant environment. May be required to use safety glasses and wear steel toe shoes while performing specific tasks or while in specific manufacturing areas.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) - Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity, disability, protected veteran status and national origin.

At Astemo, we're challenging the status quo with the power of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. Our goal is to build an inclusive work environment that celebrates the differences of our employees. We want to ensure that every employee feels valued, respected and empowered. We don't just accept difference-we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Astemo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at Astemo, please send the nature of the request and contact information to am-jobs@hitachiastemo.com when applying for the position.