Principal Project Engineer

Role Summary:

The Principal Project Engineer is the primary liaison to Office of General Counsel (OGC), working under joint coordination with Engineering & Environmental Office (EEO) (70%) and OGC (30%). This includes managing of technical and legal issues with focus on emissions/pollutant related mobile source topics.

This role is also responsible to Project Lead job split agreements with vehicle projects and to ensure compliant on-time execution and facilitate on-budget of transferred tasks to EEO.

Role Responsibilities:

Project Management / Cross-functional support of Technical and Legal Topics (60%)

• Liaison to VWGoA's Office of General Counsel (OGC) with focus on mobile source emission topics
• Oversees, in conjunction with Assist General Counsel for Emissions, the tracking database for technical and legal topics
• Manages the technical knowledge transfer to the OGC (and outside counsel if applicable)
• Oversees the data collection process and supports with data analysis
• Prepare and aligns status updates on technical and legal issues for agencies with involved stakeholders in various locations (i.e., NAR and Europe)
• Sets up and leads working groups to coordinate technical corrective actions
• Manages applicable consent decree requirements for the department incl. overseeing the on-time submission of reports
• Supports the creation and alignment of consent decree reports
• Supports Management in Whistleblower Investigations including Project Management coordination with Office of General Counsel
• Manages the creation, alignment and execution of Service Level Agreements (SLA) - GoA brands, Porsche, Bugatti and Scout
• Manages the creation, alignment and execution of Technical Importer Agreement requirements applicable to EEO
• Supports the creation and alignment of consent decree reports
• Supports Management in Whistleblower Investigations including Project Management coordination with Office of General Counsel
• Sets up and leads working groups to coordinate technical corrective actions

Project Management / Vehicle Projects (40%)

• Leads job split alignment discussions between EEO, VW AG, VW Mexico, VW AG subsidiaries and other VWGoA departments
• Oversees the implementation of new and increased job splits and task transfers to EEO from a PM perspective
• Tracks budget, time and resource needs for vehicle (homologation) projects
• Creates and provides regular status updates to stakeholders (e.g., Management, Baureihe/model line)
• Presents status updates to VWGoA and VW AG Steering Committees
• Co-Chairs the NAR Emissions Working Group (EWG) (US pre-clearing meeting for VW AG's Brand Steering Committees for exhaust emissions and fuel consumption)
• Supports Management with ad-hoc projects as needed
• Leads lessons learned activities
• Represents EEO in technical discussions with outside legal counsel in alignment with EEO and OGC leadership
• Leads job split alignment discussions between EEO, VW AG, VW Mexico, VW AG subsidiaries and other VWGoA departments
• Represents EEO in Service Level Agreement (SLA) discussions with VW Brands and subsidiaries
• Sets up and leads working groups to coordinate technical corrective actions
• Represents VW Group Brands' US bound projects in meetings with technical engineering departments to identify and understand delays and challenges with regards to vehicle homologation
• Represents VWGoA in Group and Brand Steering Committees
• Represents EEO in working groups as needed, e.g., Emissions Working Group, Market Matter Review Group, Certification Group Council, Product Launch Meetings

Qualifications:

Years of Experience:

• 10+ years professional experience in automotive industry including 5+ years in project management

Education- Required:

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred in Engineering or a technical field) - required

Education - Desired:

• Master's Degree

Skills:

• Analytical and conceptual thinking - using logic and reasoning, creativity and strategy
• Communication skills - interpersonal, presentation and written
• Computer oriented - skilled in the use of various software and any Microsoft Office Products
• Integration - joining people from different levels in the organization, their processes and/or systems
• Influencing and negotiation skills
• Problem solving
• Resource management
• Organizational skills
• Strong team working skills and demonstrated cross-functional team work mindset

Specialized Skills - Required:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certificate
• Experience in leading complex projects, preferably vehicle projects
• Ability to track, monitor and coordinate anticipated and on-going matters within the different stakeholders of the organization
• Ability to understand legal and regulatory language and requirements
• Experience in managing legal and technical issues
• Experience with leading problem resolution of legal and technical issues
• Experience in data collection and management
• Proficiency with MS project or other project management software
• Understanding of vehicle emission control systems and onboard diagnostics

Specialized Skills - Desired:

• Emissions testing / certification / Defect Reporting / Regulatory Affairs understanding and/or experience
• Familiarity with VWs Consent Decree requirements
• German language skills
• Experience in interactions with government agencies

Work Flexibility:

• Domestic and International Travel as needed ~ up to 15% (2-7 day durations)
• Workload occasionally requires additional hours beyond a normal work schedule including early morning calls with counterparts in Europe
• Must be available to contact colleagues at other locations in differing time zones.

Category 2: Responsibility to be familiar with U.S. environmental laws and know the Group's obligations related to compliance and responsibility to ensure compliance.

Current VWGoA employees applying for a promotion into management (People Leader & Expert levels) will be considered against the Access/Appointment Criteria requirements. For more information on these requirements, please click here.

Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.