Sr. Manager, Quality Launch

About Lucid Motors 

Lucid Motors is redefining luxury mobility through advanced electric vehicle technology, uncompromising quality, and world‑class manufacturing. As Lucid launches new vehicle platforms and powertrain technologies at scale, disciplined launch quality leadership is critical to ensuring safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction from first build through sustained production. 

Role Summary 

As Senior Manager, Quality Launch, you will lead day‑to‑day launch execution to ensure all pre‑series builds (VP, PP, DV, PV) and Start of Production (SOP) achieve world‑class quality performance. This role operationalizes the vision set by the Director of Quality Launch by executing launch governance, managing station‑ and shift‑level quality, ensuring incoming part quality, and validating build integrity through test track, water test, product audit, and end‑of‑line (EOL) systems. You will partner closely with Manufacturing, Powertrain Engineering, Supplier Quality, Program Management, Test & Validation, Field Quality, Product Safety, and Legal to identify risks early, control them effectively, and eliminate them through robust corrective action. 

Program context includes: 
Midsize vehicle programs in Product Validation progressing to SOP; Crossover programs at Design Freeze; SUV programs in early DFM development; and mid‑cycle changes supporting Air and Gravity platforms. 

YOU WILL 

Launch Readiness & Early Engineering Engagement 

• Influence design and manufacturability through early engagement in DFM and design phases. 

• Deploy lessons learned, special characteristics, error‑proofing standards, and DFMEA/PFMEA best practices. 

• Ensure design and process risks are mitigated prior to tooling freeze and production line bring‑up. 

Pre‑Series Build Quality (VP / PP / DV / PV → SOP) 

• Ensure all pre‑series and launch builds meet quality requirements across all stations and shifts. 

• Verify incoming part quality prior to line introduction through receiving inspection, dock audits, and conformance documentation. 

• Validate build quality at each station, including tools, fixtures, torque strategies, error‑proofing, and standardized work. 

• Govern and document deviations, concessions, and rework pathways using data‑backed risk assessments. 

Test, Audit & Verification Ownership 

• Govern water test execution, including ingress protection standards, correlation, containment, and retest loops. 

• Oversee test track activities, including dynamic testing for brake, balance, ride/handling, NVH, thermal, and functional performance, ensuring accurate data capture and validation. 

• Lead product audit performance across fit, finish, function, and regulatory criteria; track scoring and drive closure. 

• Ensure EOL test coverage, false‑fail reduction, yield optimization, dyno and metrology correlation, and station stability. 

Manufacturing Launch Execution 

• Drive PFMEA maturity across body, paint, general assembly, and powertrain operations. 

• Implement and validate Control Plans, MSA, SPC, torque verification, and error‑proofing at the station level. 

• Validate process capability (Cp/Cpk) for Special Characteristics. 

• Lead Run‑at‑Rate, Production Trial Run (PTR), PSW, and safe‑launch reviews. 

War Room, Launch Governance & Data Systems 

• Stand up and lead launch war rooms with real‑time visibility into part readiness, capability, EOL yields, escapes, staffing, and issue burn‑down. 

• Integrate MES, QMS, and PLM systems to ensure serialization, genealogy, traceability, and evidence management. 

• Maintain authoritative launch dashboards tracking FPY, scrap and rework, EOL yield, false‑fail rates, escapes, MRB/NCM aging, correlation indexes, and issue burn‑down. 

Issue Resolution, Escalation & Deviation Control 

• Lead rapid containment and corrective action validation for launch‑critical issues. 

• Own MRB/NCM processes for launch‑critical non‑conformances, ensuring aging, DPPM, and financial impacts are controlled. 

• Drive stop‑build and stop‑ship decisions with clear restart criteria and customer protection plans. 

• Escalate systemic risks with data‑driven options and recovery plans. 

Field Signal Integration & Compliance 

• Incorporate early warranty trends, Voice of Customer feedback, and field data to protect early‑life quality. 

• Ensure regulatory readiness (FMVSS, ISO, VDA) and support Product Safety and Legal with compliance‑related launch deliverables. 

Team Leadership & Development 

• Build, mentor, and develop a high‑performing launch quality team with multi‑shift coverage. 

• Develop team capability in PFMEA, MSA/SPC, torque systems, water testing, test track execution, product audit, and EOL analysis. 

• Establish a culture of accountability, prevention, and crisp verification prior to issue closure. 

Success Metrics 

• Customer escapes at or below target; reduced time to detect and contain issues. 

• EOL yield and false‑fail rates within target ranges with completed dyno and metrology correlation by gate. 

• Process capability for Special Characteristics meeting program targets. 

• FPY improvements phase‑to‑phase; reduced NCM aging and near‑zero recurrence. 

• Stable throughput at launch‑critical stations and suppliers. 

• All launch gates exited on time with objective, audit‑ready evidence. 

YOU BRING 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering (Master’s preferred). 

• Minimum of 12 years of experience in automotive, EV, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing, with demonstrated launch leadership across vehicle and/or powertrain operations. 

• Hands‑on experience delivering SOP and ramp‑up in high‑volume or high‑complexity manufacturing environments. 

• Expert knowledge of APQP/PPAP, DFMEA/PFMEA, GD&T, tolerance analysis, MSA/SPC, Control Plans, and structured problem solving (8D, A3). 

• Demonstrated leadership in war‑room execution, stop‑build/stop‑ship decisions, and cross‑functional quality recovery. 

• Ability to travel regularly between Phoenix and Casa Grande/Coolidge, with occasional travel to California, Michigan, or AMP‑2. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations. At Lucid, we don’t just welcome diversity — we celebrate the differences that make up our team.