Automotive Program Manager Jobs in Lockport, NY (NOW HIRING)

The Program Manager serves as the primary customer point of contact and is accountable for planning, coordinating, and executing automotive testing programs from award through closeout. This role works across Test Engineering, Operations, Data Quality, Business Development, Contracts, Finance, and other support functions to ensure customer requirements, contractual scope, schedules, deliverables, and changes are clearly understood and successfully delivered.

Contract Management

• Review awarded programs to confirm customer requirements, contractual scope, test requirements, schedules, deliverables, and required customer inputs.
• Identify and resolve gaps, conflicts, missing information, and program risks with the customer and internal teams before testing begins.
• Establish clear expectations and due dates for customer-supplied test articles, parts, documentation, and other required deliverables.

Customer & Program Management

• Serve as the primary customer contact from program award through completion.
• Maintain consistent communication with customers and management regarding status, schedule, scope, risks, issues, deliverables, and upcoming activities.
• Track customer deliverables and proactively communicate requirements and deadlines to support on-time execution.

Cross-Functional Program Leadership

• Coordinate cross-functional support across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Procurement, Contracts, Finance, Business Development, and other functional teams.
• Facilitate program alignment, drive action on open items, and ensure commitments are followed through to completion.
• Ensure effective communication between customer-facing personnel and teams responsible for test execution.

Logistics

• Coordinate receipt, tracking, storage, disposition, and disposal of customer vehicles, test articles, parts, components, and related property.
• Resolve shipping, receiving, logistical, or customer-property issues with internal teams and customers as needed.

Invoicing & Program Closeout

• Review completed testing and program activity against contracts, purchase orders, approved changes, and additional services to support accurate invoicing.
• Resolve discrepancies between work performed, contractual scope, and invoiced services.
• Ensure required documentation, customer deliverables, financial items, and operational actions are complete before program closeout.

Performance Expectations

The Program Manager will have performance responsibility for their assigned programs and will be expected to:

• Deliver assigned programs on schedule and in accordance with contractual scope and requirements.
• Maintain strong customer relationships through clear, consistent communication.
• Ensure customer inputs, test deliverables, documentation, and closeout requirements are completed on time.
• Manage program changes, risks, issues, billable work, and invoicing accuracy.
• Coordinate shared resources across a matrixed organization and provide timely program status to management.
• Capture lessons learned and provide program completion reporting, including estimated versus actual performance.

Qualifications

To be considered for the Program Manager role, candidates should bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, project management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 3–5 years of experience in program management, project management, automotive testing, engineering services, manufacturing, or a related technical environment.
• Demonstrated ability to understand contractual requirements, manage scope, and coordinate activities across a matrixed organization.
• Strong organizational, communication, customer relationship, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical personnel while managing multiple programs in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project scheduling/tracking tools.
• Automotive testing, crash testing, vehicle development, or engineering services is a plus but not required

Why join Calspan?

Be Calspan Culture

At Calspan, we promote an environment that empowers employees and encourages innovation. Our management team enables a strong sense of teamwork with each endeavor, where successes are shared and lessons are learned. The company’s talent brand, “Be Calspan”, incorporates our company values to Be Inclusive, Accountable, and Innovative and our commitment to drive every individual to - Be Developed, Be Balanced, Be Connected, Be Community and Be Recognized. Our culture promotes a positive atmosphere and competitive can-do method of action.

Great Benefits = Happy, Committed Employees 

Retaining great talent is as important as finding it, so at Calspan, we take our employee value proposition of Be Calspan quite seriously. To us, that means offering competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, recognition programs and promotional opportunities. Our benefits include: Health Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance/Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Short-Term/Long-Term Disability, 401(k), Hospital Coverage, Accident Coverage, Life Insurance Policy, Paid-Time Off, Company-paid Holidays, Bereavement Leave, Jury Duty, Military Leave, Employee Assistance Program, Educational Assistance Reimbursement , and Pet Insurance.

Calspan is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Calspan supports safe and drug free workplace through pre-employment background checks and drug testing.

The salary range provided is a general guideline. Actual pay will depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and other applicable qualifications.  Calspan is committed to pay transparency in compliance with applicable state and local laws.

All candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.