Principal Engineering Program Manager
The Principal Engineering Program Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for driving complex vehicle engineering programs from concept through start of production. This position owns the integrated engineering program plan, phase-gate readiness, cross-functional dependencies, and delivery of scope, timing, cost, quality, tooling, and launch objectives.
The role serves as the central operating leader for engineering execution, translating program strategy into actionable plans, governance routines, milestone deliverables, risk mitigation plans, and executive-level reporting. At the Principal level, this position influences Engineering, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, Supply Chain, and Vehicle Program Management; resolves ambiguity; escalates critical risks with clear options; and drives disciplined decisions that protect program timing and business outcomes.
This position also serves as a foundational leadership role for the Engineering Program Management function, helping establish the processes, standards, operating rhythms, and organizational capabilities required to support a growing engineering portfolio. As the organization and program portfolio expand, the role is expected to have the potential to build, lead, mentor, and develop a team of program and project management professionals. Accordingly, prior experience managing or developing program/project management talent is highly valued.
This role also leads vehicle target-setting governance and develops standardized templates, milestone criteria, and program management tools to strengthen execution through each gateway.
Responsibilities (include, but are not limited to):
- Own the integrated engineering program portfolio and associated program plans from concept through PV, launch readiness, and SOP, including milestones, dependencies, critical paths, deliverables, and phase-gate exit criteria across multiple concurrent initiatives.
- Lead cross-functional execution across Engineering, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, Supply Chain, and Vehicle Program Management to align portfolio priorities, resources, investments, scope, timing, cost, quality, tooling, and build objectives.
- Establish, lead, and continuously improve the Engineering Program Management function and governance framework, including phase-gate criteria, milestone readiness reviews, executive operating cadence, issue escalation forums, program management standards, decision documentation, and portfolio-level operating routines.
- Drive disciplined program management using MS Project, Jira, SharePoint, and related tools to maintain schedules, action registers, risk logs, dependency maps, resource plans, and executive dashboards across the engineering portfolio.
- Lead risk and issue management across technical, schedule, cost, supplier, resource, and launch-readiness domains, balancing risks and dependencies across programs, defining mitigation plans, assigning owners, and driving closure.
- Develop and standardize engineering gateway templates, readiness checklists, KPI scorecards, target-tracking methods, and operating rhythms that improve organization-wide program predictability and execution maturity, while coaching, mentoring, and developing project and program managers on consistent program management practices.
- Build organizational capability by establishing consistent program management practices, developing talent, and identifying opportunities to improve team structure, capacity, accountability, and effectiveness as the engineering portfolio grows.
- Lead vehicle and engineering target-setting governance, ensuring targets are defined, cascaded, approved, tracked, and verified across applicable programs through each gateway and delivered on time to SOP.
- Coordinate parts readiness, tooling kickoffs, material availability, build planning, and vehicle-volume/part-strategy decisions, and lead cross-program and supplier escalations to prevent shortages and protect timing.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership by framing portfolio and program trade-offs, preparing recommendations, communicating program health, and escalating risks before they impact milestones or broader business outcomes.
- Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to program and project management professionals, with the potential to assume direct people-management responsibility as the Engineering Program Management organization expands.
- Establish clear expectations, performance standards, and accountability mechanisms for program management resources and support the development of high-performing teams.
- Perform other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
- BS in Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline; advanced degree and/or PMI/PMP certification preferred.
- 10–15 years of experience in automotive engineering, vehicle development, technical program management, or engineering project management, preferably within an OEM or Tier 1 environment.
- Demonstrated success leading complex vehicle or systems programs from concept through production launch, including phase-gate governance, launch readiness, technical issue resolution, and cross-functional execution.
- Expert-level project management capability, including integrated master scheduling, critical-path management, dependency tracking, risk management, resource planning, KPI reporting, and executive stakeholder communication.
- Strong leadership capability with the ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional teams both with and without direct authority; align competing priorities, establish accountability, develop talent, and make structured recommendations under ambiguity.
- Deep understanding of automotive product development, engineering release timing, tooling readiness, supplier coordination, build events, validation milestones, and production launch requirements.
- Advanced proficiency with MS Project or equivalent scheduling tools, Jira, SharePoint, Microsoft Office, and program dashboard/reporting methods.
- Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and executive presentation skills, with the judgment and maturity expected of a Principal-level leader.
- Working knowledge of Quality Management Systems, including ISO 9001:2015, and Environmental Management Systems, including ISO 14001:2015.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience managing, mentoring, and developing program management, project management, engineering, or other technical professionals.
- Demonstrated ability to build and develop high-performing teams, establish clear accountability, and create an environment of ownership and continuous improvement.
- Experience coaching and developing project and program managers and establishing consistent program management practices across an organization.
- Experience building or scaling a program management function within a growing, entrepreneurial, or evolving automotive organization.
- Experience managing multiple concurrent programs or a portfolio of complex engineering initiatives with competing priorities and resource constraints.
- Demonstrated ability to transition from individual contributor leadership into formal people leadership and organizational leadership responsibilities.
- Experience developing program management standards, tools, governance models, and operating processes that improve organizational execution and predictability.
Physical Requirements:
Note: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee should have the:
- Ability to frequently use or operate a computer, mouse, and/or other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, computer printer, etc.
- Ability to frequently use hand(s) for repetitive actions (grasping and fine manipulation).
- Ability to frequently walk or move – to regularly move about inside the office.
- Ability to frequently see or detect, identify, recognize, or assess surroundings while in the office.
- Ability to occasionally bend, kneel, crouch, turn, and stoop.
- Ability to frequently sit or be stationary for extended continuous periods of time.
- Ability to stand for occasional periods of time.
- Ability to occasionally lift and/or push/pull up to 20 pounds.
Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing their job.
Total Rewards (Benefits, Perks & Compensation)
Benefits & Perks:
In addition to our competitive compensation, you will also be eligible for the following at Karma:
- Medical Plan
- Dental & Vision Plans
- Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account
- Employee Health & Well-Being Program Events
- Company Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
- 401(k) with Employer Match
- Relocation Assistance (if applicable)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Sick Time, Vacation time and Personal Floaters
- Paid Holidays including Company’s Annual Year End Shutdown
- Karma Cares Program (Quarterly Lunch)
- Work life Balance (Flexible and Hybrid Work Schedule)
- Employee Driving Program
- Pre-taxed Commuter Benefits & much more!
Compensation:
$190,000 - $225,000 /annual salary. Compensation will vary DOE.
At Karma, our base pay is one part of our total rewards package.
Compensation offered may vary on multiple factors, including market location, education, skills and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position being offered.
Karma Automotive, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender identity and expression, color, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions (including breastfeeding), national origin/ancestry, religion, military/veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, intersectionality or any other characteristic and group protected by applicable law. Karma Automotive, Inc complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure equal access to all qualified individuals with a physical or mental disability. Valid driver’s license may be required based on essential duties.