The Design Quality Lead (DQL) for BCIM is responsible for driving design quality excellence from early concept through launch. This role ensures alignment to quality targets, leads APQP/PPAP readiness, manages risk, and provides cross‑functional leadership to engineering, suppliers, and program teams. The DQL Project Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring robust design execution, early issue identification, and quality convergence to meet customer and business expectations.
Begin involvement 4 weeks before PM or upon A3Q release from CX.
Lead quality convergence toward NA BCIM targets for Months in Service and CPV.
Conduct Gap-to-Target assessments and identify risks requiring engineering or leadership action.
Collaborate with Engineering and TECH teams to define enablers needed to close quality gaps.
Ensure all design-related checkpoints are Green or Orange with action plans, including:
Design Assessment
Risk Management Plan
Lessons Learned (Check Retex) review
Prepare and deliver bi‑weekly project reviews with the Director.
Develop and present materials for senior leadership reviews.
Attend weekly PMT meetings and other cross-functional sessions as needed.
Participate in part readiness meetings and provide design-quality input related to APQP.
Monitor APQP and PPAP progress across assigned components and suppliers.
Initiate APQP kickoff meetings with DRE, SQE, and suppliers.
Support and help lead technical review meetings to ensure TECH teams and DQLs understand APQP expectations and cadence.
Provide weekly APQP status reports to the Project CVE.
Conduct weekly APQP grid audits and escalate issues when necessary.
Initiate escalation notifications to the Project Lead and Quality Project Specialist; maintain the escalation report.
Lead escalation meetings with Buyer, SQE, Supplier, DRE, SSTM, and SSTL as needed to resolve roadblocks.
Deliver introductory APQP/PPAP training sessions for engineering and supplier teams.
Host bi‑weekly APQP Process and AUROS/PLM Q&A workshops for DREs, SSTMs, SSTLs, SQEs, suppliers, and extended functional teams.
Provide 1:1 AUROS/PLM training for DREs to ensure proper system usage and documentation quality.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field.
Strong working knowledge of APQP and PPAP processes, deliverables, and timing.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional meetings involving Engineering, SQE, Purchasing, Program Management, and Suppliers.
Proven capability to present complex quality topics clearly and confidently to both technical teams and senior leadership.
Experience driving alignment across departments and ensuring follow‑through on action plans.
Ability to analyze quality data, identify gaps, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Skilled in preparing and delivering structured updates, risk summaries, and readiness assessments.
Experience serving as a quality lead, APQP champion, or design quality representative in a product development environment.
Prior responsibility for facilitating technical reviews, escalation meetings, or leadership‑level presentations.
Strong understanding of interdepartmental workflows across Engineering, SQE, Purchasing, Manufacturing, and Program teams.
Experience coaching or training teams on APQP/PPAP, PLM systems, or quality processes.
Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across global or distributed teams.
Proficiency with PLM systems, APQP dashboards, and quality reporting tools.
Experience preparing and presenting content for senior leadership or executive‑level reviews.
