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Automotive Program Manager Jobs in Palatine, IL (NOW HIRING)

Koch Industries

Program Manager

Lisle, IL · On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

The Program Manager anticipates risks, surfaces constraints early, and helps teams make informed ... automotive to health care and consumer to data communications. The thousands of innovators who work ...

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All JobsAutomotive Program JobsAutomotive Program Manager JobsAutomotive Program Manager Jobs in Palatine, IL

Automotive Program Manager information

See Palatine, IL salary details

$38.7K

$108K

$157.8K

How much do automotive program manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for automotive program manager in Palatine, IL is $108,006.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,900.00 and $133,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an automotive program manager do?

An Automotive Program Manager oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of automotive projects, such as vehicle development or component integration. They coordinate cross-functional teams, manage timelines and budgets, and ensure that project goals align with company objectives and customer requirements. Their role involves communicating with stakeholders, mitigating risks, and ensuring that quality standards are met throughout the project lifecycle.

What are some typical challenges faced by automotive program managers when coordinating cross-functional teams?

Automotive Program Managers often encounter challenges such as aligning the goals and timelines of diverse teams, including engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and quality assurance. Coordinating these groups requires strong communication and negotiation skills to resolve conflicts and keep projects on schedule. Additionally, managing changes in project scope—often due to evolving customer requirements or regulatory updates—demands adaptability and effective risk management. Building strong relationships and maintaining transparency with all stakeholders is key to overcoming these hurdles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an automotive program manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Automotive Program Manager, you need expertise in project management, automotive engineering principles, and a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with project management software (like MS Project), automotive design tools (such as CAD), and relevant certifications (such as PMP) is often required. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills are essential for managing cross-functional teams and meeting project deadlines. These skills ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality standards in a highly competitive industry.

What is the difference between Automotive Program Manager vs Automotive Engineer?

AspectAutomotive Program ManagerAutomotive Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Business or related field; PMP or project management certifications often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Automotive, or Electrical Engineering; Professional Engineer (PE) license optional
Work EnvironmentProject teams, cross-functional departments, management meetingsDesign labs, testing facilities, R&D departments
Employer & Industry UsageAutomotive manufacturers, suppliers, and OEMsAutomotive manufacturers, R&D centers, engineering firms
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding project management roles in automotive industryUnderstanding engineering roles in automotive development

Automotive Program Managers focus on overseeing vehicle development projects, coordinating teams, and ensuring timely delivery. Automotive Engineers are involved in designing, testing, and improving vehicle components. Both roles are essential in the automotive industry but differ in responsibilities and focus areas.

What job categories do people searching Automotive Program Manager jobs in Palatine, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Automotive Program Manager jobs in Palatine, IL are:

What cities near Palatine, IL are hiring for Automotive Program Manager jobs?

Cities near Palatine, IL with the most Automotive Program Manager job openings:

Automotive Program Manager jobs near you

Program Manager

Koch Industries

Lisle, IL • On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago

Koch Industries rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 53 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

137th of 544 rated manufacturers

Job description

Your Job
Molex is seeking a Program Manager to translate customer demand and strategic priorities into executable programs across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain. This role ensures complex customer programs move forward with clarity, alignment, and disciplined execution. The Program Manager anticipates risks, surfaces constraints early, and helps teams make informed trade-offs as programs evolve.
Success in this role requires strong systems thinking, the ability to influence across functions, and the judgment to navigate ambiguity while protecting customer commitments. This role operates at the center of cross-functional collaboration, connecting commercial teams, engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain to ensure programs deliver predictable results as the business scales.
Location: This is an onsite role based at our headquarters in Lisle, IL.
What You Will Do
  • Convert customer strategic priorities into clear program plans, milestones, and deliverables
  • Define scope, program objectives, and expected outcomes in collaboration with engineering, operations, and commercial teams
  • Align stakeholders on program priorities and desired end state
  • Coordinate execution across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial teams
  • Ensure clear ownership of workstreams, deliverables, and dependencies
  • Facilitate collaboration across internal teams and external customer stakeholders
  • Identify program risks, resource gaps, and execution constraints before they impact delivery
  • Monitor program health and proactively escalate issues when trade-offs or leadership decisions are required
  • Ensure teams have visibility into program status, dependencies, and capacity challenges
  • Maintain clear visibility into program milestones, scope changes, and delivery expectations
  • Ensure stakeholders have accurate, timely insight into progress, risks, and program health
  • Enable teams to make informed decisions by providing structured program updates and insights
  • Facilitate discussions that clarify priorities and trade-offs across teams
  • Drive resolution when competing priorities, scope changes, or resource conflicts arise
  • Ensure decisions are communicated clearly and execution remains aligned

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)
  • 7+ years of experience leading complex cross-functional programs or product development initiatives
  • Experience managing programs within engineering, manufacturing, or product development environments
  • Experience influencing and coordinating work across engineering, operations, and commercial teams
  • Strong organization and communication skills
  • Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Experience working with global teams and complex stakeholder networks
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
  • Demonstrated ability to anticipate risks and navigate ambiguity

What Will Put You Ahead
  • PMP Certified
  • MBA or Masters Degree in a related field
  • Experience working with Tier 1 and/or hyperscale customers
  • Experience managing direct reports
  • Change management experience
  • Previous experience in a sales, product development, or engineering role

For this role, we anticipate paying $150,000 - $180,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .
Who We Are
As a Koch company, Molex is a leading supplier of connectors and interconnect components, driving innovation in electronics and supporting industries from automotive to health care and consumer to data communications. The thousands of innovators who work for Molex have made us a global electronics leader. Our experienced people, groundbreaking products and leading-edge technologies help us deliver a wider array of solutions to more markets than ever before.
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquí , or tu ).
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