Senior Manager, Automotive Programs

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.

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