Lucid’s Body Structures & Closures (BS&C) organization is seeking a Staff Technical Program Manager (Staff SET Lead, BIW) to deliver complex vehicle body programs from concept through production. This role leads Simultaneous Engineering Teams (SETs) executing aluminum‑intensive and mixed‑material BIW architectures, with full accountability for cost, quality, timing, mass, and manufacturability.
This is a senior, hands‑on program leadership role for an experienced automotive TPM with strong BIW technical depth, executive‑level communication skills, and the ability to drive disciplined execution in a fast‑paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Delivery
- Lead BS&C SETs across all program phases: concept, architecture, design, industrialization, launch, and post‑SOP.
- Own integrated program plans, critical path, milestones, and risk mitigation for aluminum and mixed‑material BIW systems.
- Drive execution to aggressive cost, timing, quality, and mass targets.
- Lead program forums and SET reviews to align on design maturity, part readiness, tooling status, and build events.
- Own engineering change management, clearly controlling scope, cost, and timing impacts.
Cross‑Functional Integration
- Partner with Vehicle Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, NPI, Quality, and Operations to ensure end‑to‑end delivery.
- Ensure early and continuous manufacturability alignment, including tooling, industrialization, and launch readiness.
- Serve as the single point of accountability for BS&C program status, risks, and recovery plans.
Technical Leadership
- Provide technical leadership in BIW aluminum and mixed‑material body systems, including:
- Aluminum stampings, castings, and extrusions
- Mixed‑material architectures (i.e. aluminum, steel, composites)
- Joining technologies (i.e. SPR, FDS, structural adhesives, welding, bonding)
- Challenge technical and program assumptions to drive optimized outcomes.
- Ensure design and release timing supports downstream manufacturing and build execution.
Executive Communication & Operating Cadence
- Represent BS&C in program gateways and executive reviews, clearly communicating status, risks, and trade‑offs.
- Establish and continuously improve program management cadence, tools, and metrics.
Culture & Talent Development
- Drive a culture of ownership, accountability, and technical excellence.
- Mentor TPMs and SET leaders within the BS&C organization.
Required Qualifications
Program Leadership
- Proven ability to independently start and lead complex automotive programs.
- Track record of delivering at least one full vehicle or major subsystem program through SOP.
- Strong command of program planning and tracking tools (i.e. MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent; Jira a plus).
Technical Background
- Strong hands‑on knowledge of BIW systems, with emphasis on aluminum‑intensive and mixed‑material structures.
- Solid understanding of vehicle development, design release, tooling, manufacturing readiness, and launch.
Leadership & Mindset
- Exceptional ownership mindset; operates beyond formal role boundaries.
- Structured, data‑driven decision‑maker comfortable in ambiguity.
- Clear, concise communicator across engineering and executive audiences.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field (Master’s or PhD preferred).
- 8+ years relevant experience (6+ with Master’s; 3+ with PhD).
- OEM or Tier‑1 automotive experience strongly preferred.
Additional Information
- Approximately 10% travel to Lucid engineering and manufacturing sites to support builds and launches.
