Director, Product Engineering

Program Description

The Director Product Engineering GM Programs provides strategic and operational leadership for all product engineering activities supporting assigned General Motors vehicle platforms and programs. This position is responsible for leading engineering teams across product development design validation launch readiness and engineering change management while ensuring customer satisfaction quality timing and financial objectives are achieved.

The Director serves as the primary engineering interface to General Motors and collaborates closely with Program Management Manufacturing Engineering Sales Purchasing Quality Tooling and Operations to successfully launch and maintain programs throughout the product lifecycle. The role develops engineering talent drives technical excellence and supports the organizations long-term growth strategy with GM.

• Lead mentor and develop Product Engineering Managers Senior Engineering Managers Principal Engineers and Product Engineers.
• Build organizational capability through coaching succession planning talent development and performance management.
• Establish engineering priorities and resource plans to support program timing and customer requirements.
• Foster a culture of accountability collaboration continuous improvement and innovation.

• Serve as the primary engineering representative for assigned GM platforms and vehicle programs.
• Maintain strong working relationships with GM Engineering Purchasing Supplier Quality Manufacturing and Program Teams.
• Lead customer design reviews technical discussions engineering issue resolution and product development activities.
• Ensure engineering deliverables support program timing quality requirements and launch objectives.
• Support commercial discussions and customer growth opportunities.

• Direct product design development validation and release activities from concept through production launch.
• Ensure designs meet customer specifications regulatory requirements manufacturability standards and quality expectations.
• Drive engineering change management processes and risk mitigation plans.
• Oversee engineering support for prototype builds testing activities and launch events.
• Lead technical problem-solving efforts throughout program development and production.

• Partner with Program Management to achieve program financial timing and quality targets.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure product designs support efficient production processes.
• Work closely with Quality Purchasing Tooling and Operations teams to successfully launch and maintain programs.
• Coordinate engineering resources across multiple programs vehicle platforms and customer initiatives.

• Manage engineering budgets resource utilization and project expenditures.
• Monitor engineering metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify risks to program timing quality or customer satisfaction and implement corrective actions.
• Support strategic planning activities for future platform awards and product growth opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with company standards customer requirements and quality systems.

• Bachelors degree in Engineering required.
• Masters degree in Engineering Business Administration or related field preferred.

• 10 years of progressive automotive engineering experience.
• 5 years of engineering leadership experience managing technical teams.
• Experience supporting OEM customers preferably General Motors.
• Demonstrated experience leading product development and program launch activities.
• Experience in automotive interiors components systems or related product engineering environments preferred.

• Product development and engineering change management.
• Program launch and APQP methodologies.
• Engineering design and validation processes.
• Manufacturing and quality systems knowledge.
• Customer relationship management.
• Budget and resource management.
• Strategic planning and organizational leadership.

• Program launch performance
• Customer satisfaction metrics
• Product quality performance
• Engineering budget adherence
• Engineering resource utilization
• Employee engagement and retention
• Safety and compliance performance
• Timing and milestone achievement
• Talent development and succession readiness