Manufacturing, E-commerce, Technology

Senior Manager, Automotive Programs

North Bethesda, MDHybridFull TimeManager / Head$108,000–$140,000 /yrPosted 1 month ago

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Required skills

Automotive
APQP
PPAP
IATF 16949
8D
PFMEA
Control Plans
MSA
SPC
PSW

Nice to have

EV
battery
lightweighting
ERP systems
PLM
supply chain analytics

Role summary

Xometry seeks a Senior Manager, Automotive Programs to lead its automotive program portfolio. This role is accountable for growing the automotive business and ensuring disciplined execution of programs from award through launch and steady-state supply. The ideal candidate is an automotive-native operator with expertise in APQP, PPAP, and IATF-aligned requirements. Responsibilities include managing a team of program managers, driving launch and quality execution, developing the partner base, and building senior-level customer relationships. This remote position requires 8+ years of experience in automotive program management and 2+ years of people leadership, with a preference for candidates in the Midwest or Southeast.

Xometry (NASDAQ: XMTR) powers the industries of today and tomorrow by connecting the people with big ideas to the manufacturers who can bring them to life. Xometry’s digital marketplace gives manufacturers the critical resources they need to grow their business while also making it easy for buyers at Fortune 1000 companies to tap into global manufacturing capacity.

Automotive is one of the most demanding and most valuable segments Xometry serves. Programs in this space carry multi-year horizons, unforgiving launch timing, and a quality bar defined by APQP, PPAP, and IATF-aligned customer requirements. Getting them right builds durable, high-volume production relationships. Getting them wrong is visible immediately.

The Senior Manager, Automotive Programs owns Xometry's automotive program portfolio end to end. This leader is accountable both for growing the automotive book of business within existing accounts and for the disciplined execution of those programs from award through launch, PPAP, and steady-state supply. It is a dual mandate: build the pipeline and deliver on it.

This role leads a team of program managers and works closely with the field-deployed engineering team, the Partner Network, Sales, and Quality. Success requires an automotive-native operator who can hold a customer program review on Monday, drive a supplier 8D on Tuesday, and coach a program manager through a launch risk on Wednesday.

This role reports to the Director, Strategic Program Operations.

How You'll Contribute:

Own the Automotive Program Portfolio

Own performance across Xometry's portfolio of automotive production programs against cost, quality, delivery, and growth objectives

Establish program governance, operating cadences, and customer review rhythms appropriate to automotive expectations

Maintain a consolidated view of automotive program loading, capacity commitments, and launch timing across the partner network

Lead risk identification, escalation, and mitigation across customer, partner, and internal teams

Report portfolio health to Xometry leadership and to customer program teams

Grow the Automotive Book of Business

Identify and develop new production program opportunities within existing automotive accounts, including OEMs and Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers

Partner with Sales and the field engineering team to qualify opportunities, shape the technical and commercial approach, and win awards

Build senior-level relationships with customer purchasing, program management, and supplier quality organizations

Translate customer sourcing roadmaps into a forward pipeline of Xometry opportunities

Own a defined growth target for the automotive segment

Drive Launch and Quality Execution

Own the APQP process from program award through tooling, validation, PPAP submission, run-at-rate, and customer start of production

Build and maintain program timelines covering tooling, sampling, tool tryout, validation, PPAP, and SOP milestones

Partner with Quality to execute PPAP requirements including PSW, control plans, process flow, PFMEA, MSA, and capability studies

Plan and manage safe-launch and GP12 requirements, customer-controlled shipping where applicable, and 8D corrective actions through closure

Support Xometry's quality management system obligations and participate in customer QMS audits and supplier assessments

Ensure operational readiness for production ramps, program transfers, and engineering change execution

Develop the Partner Base for Automotive Work

Work with the Partner Network and field engineering teams to identify and qualify partners capable of meeting automotive quality and volume requirements

Assess partner production readiness, capacity, and quality systems ahead of program placement

Drive partner performance against on-time delivery, PPM, and cost targets on automotive programs

Lead escalation and recovery when partner performance puts a customer commitment at risk

Build contingency and dual-source strategies for critical automotive programs

Lead and Develop the Team

Manage, coach, and develop a team of program managers supporting automotive programs

Set clear performance expectations, accountability frameworks, and development plans

Balance program assignments against team capacity and program criticality

Coach the team on customer management, launch discipline, and structured problem solving

Standardize automotive program management practices and build repeatable playbooks as the portfolio scales

What You'll Bring To Xometry:

Core Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field

8+ years of experience in automotive program management, launch, supplier quality, or manufacturing operations

2+ years of direct people leadership experience, or demonstrated leadership of program teams

Working expertise in APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, SPC, and 8D problem solving

Strong understanding of IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements

Demonstrated track record launching automotive programs from award through SOP

Experience managing supplier or contract manufacturer relationships and performance

How You Work

Credible with both a customer program director and a supplier's plant manager

Structured and data-driven, converting program signals into decisions before issues become escalations

Comfortable owning both a growth number and an execution scorecard without trading one for the other

Strong written and verbal communication, including executive-level presentation skills

Able to build the operating model while running it in a fast-moving environment

Location and Travel

Remote, with preference for candidates based in the Midwest or Southeast automotive corridors

Approximately 30-40% travel to customer and partner facilities

Must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States, or hold a visa that allows you to work in the United States without sponsorship

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience at an automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier

Experience with EV, battery, or lightweighting programs

Familiarity with ERP systems, PLM, and supply chain analytics tools

PMP, Six Sigma, or Lean certification

Experience in a high-mix contract manufacturing or manufacturing marketplace environment

The estimated base salary range for new hires into this role is $108,000 - $140,000 annually + annual bonus depending on factors such as job-related skills, relevant experience, and location. We also offer a competitive benefits package, including 401(k) match, medical, dental and vision insurance; life and disability insurance; generous paid time off including vacation, sick leave, floating and fixed holidays, maternity and bonding leave; EAP, other wellbeing resources; and much more.

#LI-Hybrid

Xometry is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

For US based roles: Xometry participates in E-Verify and after a job offer is accepted, will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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