Jürgen Rothländer - Automotive Program Manager, APQP

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Madrid, Germany

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Experience

Sep 2025 - Nov 2025

3 months

Consultant

Tallag Gera

Increasing productivity
Ensuring machine availability
Process optimization
System optimization

Jun 2025 - Jul 2025

2 months

Consultant

Hoppecke Zwickau

Review of critical projects
Preparation of a target/actual variance analysis
Discussions with the people involved from design, development, project management and executive management to identify the causes
Comparison and evaluation of the discussions
Development of improvement proposals

Nov 2024 - May 2025

7 months

Consultant

Lapp GmbH

Project management for various cable projects for Rheinmetall
Scheduling and coordination
Coordination meetings with customers and suppliers
Responsible for change management
Leading internal coordination meetings with purchasing, development, quality, sales, process and production
Reporting to management
Project management for VG certification

Apr 2024 - Dec 2024

9 months

Consultant

SMA Solar

Managing suppliers for cables, cable sets and wiring harnesses using APQP
Ensuring APQP milestones
Ensuring supplier input in Jaggaer-APQP
Coordination with suppliers
Clarification of measures with suppliers and internally in the event of deviations
Internal coordination with purchasing, project management and work preparation

Sep 2022 - Mar 2024

1 year 7 months

Consultant

Alstom Salzgitter

Interface between project management and purchasing
Ensuring the GoRFQ, BA and GoOrder milestones
Ensuring PO placement and initial deliveries
Internal coordination with purchasing, engineering, quality, industrialization and project management
Reporting to management

Apr 2022 - Sep 2022

6 months

Consultant

Waldaschaff

Management of quality topics for the Porsche J1PA battery box
Management of the QVP
Coordination with J1 series quality assurance
Coordination of sampling with suppliers and customers
Internal coordination and customer communication

Nov 2020 - Apr 2022

1 year 6 months

Consultant

Hoppecke Batteriesysteme

Program management for battery systems in the railway industry for Alstom and Hitachi
Coordination meetings with international customers (France, India, Italy, UK)
Management of internal coordination meetings with Purchasing, Development, Quality, Sales, Process and Production
Review and coordination of weight optimization measures at the customer's request
Project costing and controlling
Reporting to management
Follow-up and tracking of all open sales with optimization measures
Handling of complaints

Apr 2019 - Oct 2020

1 year 7 months

Consultant

Waldaschaff

Program management for the Crash Management System BMW G20/21/22/23/26/G42/G80/82/83
Coordination meetings with customers and tool and equipment suppliers
Responsible for change management
Management of internal coordination meetings with Purchasing, Development, Quality, Sales, Process and Production
Production in China, Germany and Mexico
Project costing, controlling and price negotiations with the customer
Reporting to management
Optimization of existing equipment to increase OEE
Increasing EBT through supplier changes and process optimization

Jun 2018 - Mar 2019

10 months

Consultant

Wocogroup

Program management for engine covers for Daimler (OM608) in Romania and Hungary
Program management for filter housings for VW (MQB27, MQB37) in Hungary, Spain and Mexico
Program management for air filters for Audi R8 in Hungary
Coordination meetings with customers and tool and component suppliers
Responsible for change management
Management of internal coordination meetings with Purchasing, Development, Quality, Sales, Process and Production
Support and execution of customer and supplier audits
Reporting to management
Successful de-escalation for the Audi R8
Successful audit of the Romanian plant by Daimler

Jan 2017 - Jun 2018

1 year 6 months

Business Manager Engineering

Tecosim GmbH

Establishment of the Engineering department
Sales and acquisition of new projects in the Engineering sector
Cost calculation, preparation and negotiation of offers
Program management
Support for Human Resources
Support for Marketing in strategic planning to achieve growth targets
Successful expansion of an order with an OEM in Cologne and acquisition of a project with revenue < 1 Mio. Euro

Apr 2016 - Dec 2016

9 months

Consultant

Grupo Antolin

Technical program management for Ford B515 instrument panel and center console
Management of Product Engineering, Quality and Process areas
Advising internal departments on Ford processes (P-FMEA, SCCAF, 3EC, eAPQP, GVT, Concerns)
Responsible for eAPQP for all three production plants
Internal coordination meetings and coordination with suppliers and customer
Change assessments and implementation
Interface with the Straubing plant (instrument panel production)

Nov 2014 - Mar 2016

1 year 5 months

Consultant

Magna Steyr

Project management for the development of station wagon-specific interior components for Ford Focus (headliner, HardTrim, carpet and insulation)
Taking on the OEM function as part of the Ford development team
Responsibility for timing, costs, weight and quality
Leading a team of approx. 10 employees (product engineers and CAD) in Cologne and Sailauf
Supplier management in Germany and Spain
Reporting to Ford and Magna internal management
Change management

Aug 2014 - Nov 2014

4 months

Consultant

MPE Ltd.

Program management for a supplier of plastic parts in the automotive industry (plastic seat parts for Audi A4, Q5 and Q7)
Strategic and operational consulting in development and project management

Apr 2014 - Dec 2014

9 months

Consultant

Huber und Suhner

Moderation of P-FMEA and D-FMEA to support internal departments (production and development)
Leading FMEA sessions
Advising on the evaluation of ranking numbers and possible optimization measures

Jun 2012 - Aug 2014

2 years 3 months

Consultant

Bombardier Transportation

Project and supplier management for a double-decker train project for SBB
Strategic consulting on supplier selection
Coordination with wiring harness suppliers, inter-carriage cable and junction box suppliers, as well as internal departments in Görlitz, Hennigsdorf, Villeneuve and Bruges
Monthly reviews with suppliers
Introduction of onsite Supplier Resident Engineers to optimize development times and quality
Reduction of part and warranty costs through supplier changes
Project management for exterior flaps and battery boxes (11/2012–12/2013)
Responsibility for quality, deadlines and costs
Reduction of development time and optimization of quality
Coordination of weight optimization for battery boxes and wiring harnesses
Planning and execution of tests as well as quality control (PMR/FAI)
Pilot project for introducing Visual Engineering according to Scrum (04/2013–12/2013)
Execution of Visual Engineering
Started as Product Owner and later became Scrum Master
Change and configuration management for electrical systems (12/2013–08/2014)
Optimization of the change process and reduction of change lead times
Task force leader for the revision of wiring harnesses due to fire protection requirements and overcrowding of cable ducts (04/2014–08/2014)
Scheduling, personnel planning, cross-site coordination and reporting to management

Apr 2011 - May 2012

1 year 2 months

Engineering/Account Manager

Creative Data AG

Personnel responsibility for approx. 60 employees
Recruitment and employee meetings
Customer support (development and purchasing)
Preparation and negotiation of offers
Contact person for fixed-price projects with Ford
Project management regarding costs, time and quality
Reporting to the CEO of CD Projects GmbH (actual/target figures, variance and risk analyses, strategic direction)
Supplier management for approx. 40 subcontractors

Dec 2010 - Mar 2011

4 months

Consultant

Lear Corporation

Support for the VW Key Account
Cost calculation for prototype deliveries, PVS and 0-series for New Beetle and Tiguan Russia
Preparation of an overview of customs and transport costs for various Russia projects
Offer calculation for VW New Beetle Coupe/Convertible covers and Fabia/Polo/Octavia headrests
Offer and contract negotiations with VW

Apr 2009 - Mar 2011

2 years

Managing Director

Benteler Engineering Services GmbH

Management of the five German branches and one branch in England with over 300 employees and €25 million in revenue
Preparation of monthly reports for the parent company (actual/target figures, variance and risk analyses, planning)
Strategy development for the Germany location (new locations and business areas)
Budget, investment and P&L planning
Management of the Cologne location and opening of the Paderborn branch
Assignment of an employee to China to open the Asia region
Merger of PDE Automotive Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG and Incon Automotive GmbH into Benteler Engineering Services GmbH
Project management for the system change from Navision 2.9 to SAP R3

Mar 2003 - Mar 2011

8 years 1 month

Branch Manager Cologne

Benteler Engineering Services GmbH

Expansion of the Cologne location from 12 to over 130 employees
Project Manager (SPOC) body development Ford Kuga C394 (12/2005–03/2008; up to 35 employees)
Project Manager (SPOC) integration of front and rear suspension Ford Focus RS (01/2008–03/2009; up to 10 employees)
Achieved Tier 1 status with a renowned OEM
Strategic planning for the Cologne location and P&L planning
Customer support, acquisition, contract negotiations and offer preparation
Monthly reports for the parent company
Personnel management and supplier management
Continuation of the Revo-Knuckles project through 07/2003

Jul 1999 - Feb 2003

3 years 8 months

Project Manager/Deputy Engineering Manager

MSX International

Management of CAD development projects and up to 25 employees
Project costing and preparation of offers
Implementation of a trainee program
Project Manager, CAD development of a radio unit for Bosch/Blaupunkt (01/2002–07/2002; approx. 12 employees)
Support for the Ford Research Center Aachen in the development of the Revo-Knuckles (07/2002–02/2003)
Cockpit development for the C1 platform (Ford/Volvo/Mazda) as Project Manager-CAD (06/2000–10/2001)
Customer and employee support and reporting as a deputy for the Engineering Manager

Jan 1998 - Jun 1999

1 year 6 months

CAD Designer

Ford Werke AG

CAD development for chassis and fuel system components for Mondeo and Cougar
Modification and creation of new components
Feasibility, tolerance, and installation space studies
Coordination with specialist departments and suppliers
Support for a master's thesis on automatic refueling

Jul 1997 - Dec 1997

6 months

CAD Designer

Konstruktionsbüro Langen

Design of welding fixtures and special assembly units using FIDES
Creation of spot patterns and illustrations with flowcharts in the field of underbody and side panels

Nov 1996 - Jun 1997

8 months

CAD Designer

KMS Peter Haep GmbH

Support for manual tool design and CAD design
Creation of a press handbook covering all European presses of Ford Werke AG
Preparation of CAD data for tool and gauge design
Creation of manufacturing processes
Quality management representative

Jan 1996 - Nov 1996

11 months

CAD Designer

PLE Engineering GmbH

Design changes to plastic and metal parts
Installation studies and feasibility studies
Creation of drawings and data release
Feasibility study of the Ford Escort headlamp reflector for the EU and US markets
Modification of the trunk hinge and door lock area of the Ford Scorpio

Industry experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Automotive, Manufacturing, Energy, Professional Services, and Aerospace and Defense.

Automotive

Manufacturing

Energy

Professional Services

Aerospace and Defense

Business area experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Project Management, Operations, Product Development, Strategy, Quality Assurance, and Procurement.

Project Management

Operations

Product Development

Strategy

Quality Assurance

Procurement

Skills

Professional: Executive Management, Business Development, Product Development, Project And Quality Management, Process Improvement, Personnel, Budget And Project Planning
Confident, Routine Use Of Ms-Office

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Sep 1989 - May 1995

Fachhochschule Köln

Mechanical Engineering/Vehicle Technology · Cologne, Germany · 2,7

Aug 1985 - Jun 1989

Kollegschule für Elektrotechnik Köln-Deutz

Fachhochschulreife · Cologne, Germany

Aug 1985 - Jun 1989

Kollegschule für Elektrotechnik Köln-Deutz

Staatlich geprüfter Technischer Assistent der Fachrichtung Elektrotechnik · Electrical Engineering · Cologne, Germany · 3,3

...and 3 more

Certifications & licenses

Teamcenter; AVBoM; E2KS; FMA

Ford

TÜV Süd

8D

Quality-One International

APQP

Quality-One International

Bombardier Intern

PPAP

Quality-One International

Teamcenter Engineering

Bombardier Intern

KVP

Benteler Intern

SAP R3

Benteler Intern

BWL Für GmbH-Geschäftsführer

TÜV Nord

Personalführung Für GmbH-Geschäftsführer

TÜV Nord

BVA-Benteler Value Added

Benteler-Intern

K1/K2-Prozess

Benteler-Intern

Catia V5

INCAT

IDEAS Body Level 200

Ford-Trainingscenter

IDEAS

Ford-Trainingscenter

GD&T

Ford-Trainingscenter

Wers

Ford-Trainingscenter

Fides

Konstruktionsbüro Langen – Intern

PDGS

PLE Engineering GmbH - Intern

VDI Seminare Für Wertanalyse

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 24

Experience in Automotive 23 y

Avg length 1 y 4 m

Longest experience 8 y

Expertise

Recent roles Consultant, Business Manager Engineering, Engineering/Account Manager

Main industries Automotive, Manufacturing, Energy

Main business areas Project Management, Operations, Product Development

Qualifications

Certifications earned 22

Member since

March 2026

Last update

October 2026

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Frequently asked questions

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Jürgen is based in Madrid, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

Jürgen speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).

Jürgen has at least 30 years of experience. During this time, Jürgen has worked in at least 7 different roles and for 22 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 3 months. Note that Jürgen may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, Jürgen would be well-suited for roles such as: Consultant, Business Manager Engineering, Engineering/Account Manager.

Jürgen's most recent position is Consultant at Tallag Gera.

In recent years, Jürgen has worked for Tallag Gera, Hoppecke Zwickau, Lapp GmbH, SMA Solar, and Alstom Salzgitter.

Jürgen is most experienced in industries like Automotive, Manufacturing, and Energy. Jürgen also has some experience in Professional Services and Aerospace and Defense.

Jürgen is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Operations, and Product Development. Jürgen also has some experience in Strategy, Quality Assurance, and Procurement.

Jürgen has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing, Energy, and Aerospace and Defense.

Jürgen has recently worked in business areas like Project Management, Procurement, and Quality Assurance.

Jürgen attended Fachhochschule Köln for Mechanical Engineering/Vehicle Technology.

Jürgen has 22 certificates. Among them, these include: Teamcenter; AVBoM; E2KS; FMA, Prozessauditor VDA 6.3 (VDA lizensiert), and 8D.

Jürgen is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

Daily rate distribution

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The rates shown represent the typical market range for freelancers in this position based on recent contracts on our platform.

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Daily rate avg. 940 €

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Median rate 860 €

The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.

Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 26 Oct 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.