Automotive Program Manager

Kelly® Engineering is seeking a Program Manager for a direct-hire position with a manufacturer of high-performance braking systems in Clover, South Carolina . This opportunity combines customer-facing automotive program leadership with the ability to build a more structured approach to product development and program execution.

Overview

Our client designs and manufactures braking products for motorsports, passenger vehicles, commercial fleets, and emergency response applications. Its products support demanding environments where performance, reliability, and consistent quality matter—from competitive racing to everyday fleet operations.

The Program Manager will lead customer programs from early opportunity assessment through development, production approval, and launch. Working with sales, engineering, quality, and production, this person will establish a practical Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) framework, coordinate customer requirements, and keep program milestones, resources, and deliverables on track. The portfolio includes predominantly racing programs alongside automotive OEM work, requiring an approach tailored to each customer and project.

Responsibilities

• Lead customer programs from initial opportunity assessment through development, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and transition into production.

• Serve as a primary program contact for automotive OEM and Tier 1 customers, coordinating requirements, meetings, milestones, and outstanding deliverables.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive APQP framework, adapting requirements to each customer, product, and program’s complexity.

• Translate high-level product development milestones into detailed plans with clear task ownership, deadlines, dependencies, and approval requirements.

• Partner with sales during the opportunity stage to assess customer expectations, resource needs, timing, and alignment with manufacturing capabilities.

• Coordinate engineering, quality, production, and sales activities to support timely execution within agreed budgets and resource constraints.

• Identify program risks, resolve cross-functional obstacles, and escalate issues that could affect timing, cost, quality, or customer commitments.

• Coordinate required engineering and quality deliverables, including Design FMEAs, control plans, and production approval documentation.

• Establish focused program reviews that drive decisions, accountability, and follow-through.

• Maintain program schedules and report progress, customer metrics, resource needs, and open actions to leadership.

• Improve and standardize program management processes while applying the appropriate level of structure to racing and OEM programs.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated automotive project or program management experience involving OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers.

• Strong knowledge of APQP and experience applying it to product development and production launches.

• Direct experience managing customer requirements, leading customer meetings, and coordinating program deliverables.

• Ability to build and implement practical program management processes.

• Understanding of how sales, engineering, quality, and production activities connect throughout the product lifecycle.

• Familiarity with automotive quality planning deliverables, including Design FMEAs, control plans, and PPAP.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Project or a comparable scheduling tool, along with Microsoft Excel.

• Strong organization, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional follow-through.

• Ability to coordinate technical work, manage competing priorities, and hold teams accountable for agreed commitments.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field preferred; relevant automotive program management experience will also be considered.

• Interest in automotive technology, motorsports, or performance products is a plus.

What Happens Next

Once you apply, we’ll review your skills and experience and contact you about next steps if the opportunity looks like a good fit. You’ll also become part of the Kelly Engineering network, connecting you with recruiters who support additional engineering and technical opportunities.

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here (https://www.mykelly.com/help-support-working-with-kelly-us/#Benefits) for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly ® Engineering?

Your engineering skills are in demand, but how do you find the right fit? Easy. At Kelly Engineering, our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. We connect you with leading organizations where you can collaborate on innovative projects, work with cutting-edge technologies and accelerate your growth. Whether you prefer the variety and flexibility of short-term projects or are looking for a long-term opportunity, we’re here to guide you to the next step in your engineering career.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice (https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment\_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en) .

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.