Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Awards and Patents
Timeline
Generic

Richard Papp

Macomb Township,MI

Summary

Strategic product and program leader with 12+ years of experience guiding complex hardware and software initiatives from idea to delivery. Expert at setting product vision, managing risk, and aligning engineering, business, and customer needs to hit launch goals on time and on budget. Built processes, dashboards, and a trade secret-protected methodology to reduce complexity and improve execution. Agile (SAFe), Six Sigma–certified, with deep experience in cross-functional leadership, analytics tools, and contract negotiations. Ready to step into senior product or technical program manager roles in tech.

Overview

2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Staff Vehicle Product Manager

General Motors
2024 - Current
  • Own product definition and strategic direction for all global crossover nameplates, one of GM’s highest-volume, highest-revenue segments, aligning customer needs, technology trends, and business priorities
  • Lead cross-functional alignment across marketing, technology planning, engineering, and program management teams to ensure delivery of market-ready features on time and within scope
  • Develop and maintain product documentation to communicate upcoming features and products to internal teams.
  • Develops and communicates product strategy and vision, gaining buy-in across key stakeholders.
  • Communicate effectively with team members to deliver updates on project milestones and deadlines.

Senior Product Manager – Electrical Architecture Complexity

General Motors
2022 - Current
  • Reduced electrical configuration complexity by approximately 80% through platform-wide hardware and software standardization, enabling on-time software delivery and preventing oversubscription of engineering resources
  • Co-invented and secured a trade secret patent for complexity reduction methodology, protecting intellectual property and ensuring long-term scalability of electrical architectures
  • Developed a Power BI-driven complexity tracking dashboard adopted by executive leadership, providing real-time guardrails to prevent unnecessary hardware proliferation and enabling faster, better-informed decisions
  • Built portfolio-wide analytics tools to visualize complexity metrics, improving transparency and enabling data-driven portfolio management
  • Directed portfolio-wide electrical architecture strategy to reduce software and hardware variants, simplifying engineering workloads and accelerating delivery timelines
  • Championed modular architecture and software reuse initiatives, reducing variant counts and enabling faster cross-platform feature deployment
  • Established governance frameworks to control year-over-year complexity growth, improving launch readiness

Infotainment Program Manager – Global Crossovers & Full-Sized Truck

General Motors
2019 - Current
  • Managed the full lifecycle of infotainment systems for crossover and truck platforms, overseeing integration, validation, and launch readiness for vehicles generating significant annual revenue
  • Balanced cost, feature set, and regulatory requirements to deliver reliable, high-performance infotainment systems on schedule
  • Worked with key suppliers to improve system reliability, reduce warranty claims and improving customer satisfaction scores
  • Coordinated multi-region software deployments, achieving high first-time pass rates in validation testing
  • Established strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring support for program initiatives.

Program Manager – Low Cost Radio

General Motors
2016 - Current
  • Led design and launch of a cost-optimized radio product targeting emerging markets and entry-level segments, increasing competitiveness in targeted regions
  • Directed supplier collaboration to ensure product met performance, quality, and cost objectives
  • Introduced manufacturing and design efficiencies that reduced bill-of-material costs while maintaining quality and compliance
  • Served as a bridge between technical teams and suppliers, facilitating smooth execution and issue resolution.
  • Managed project deliverables and reporting, providing leadership with transparent progress updates.

Infotainment Software Integration

General Motors
2012 - Current
  • Coordinated integration and testing of next-generation infotainment software across multiple platforms, ensuring alignment with hardware architecture and launch schedules
  • Designed cost-effective wiring solutions to facilitate transitions between system generations
  • Diagnosed and resolved complex network and software issues across LAN, LIN, MOST, and Ethernet architectures, improving system uptime and launch readiness
  • Managed software update events across hundreds of development vehicles, ensuring consistent configuration and minimizing delays in validation activities
  • Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
  • Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.

Software Application Support – Site Lead

Movimento
2011 - 2012
  • Led a team delivering infotainment system updates across GM development fleets, meeting all project deadlines
  • Managed software reflash campaigns involving hundreds of vehicles across multiple sites, improving update cycle efficiency
  • Collaborated with OEM stakeholders to troubleshoot and resolve complex integration issues
  • Improved site efficiency by implementing streamlined processes and procedures.
  • Maintained detailed records of project progress, allowing for accurate forecasting of future needs.
  • Collaborated with other Site Leads to share best practices and improve overall company performance.
  • Resolved conflicts among team members, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
  • Developed effective communication channels between onsite teams and offsite management staff.

On Site Technician

ALJ Solutions
2008 - 2011
  • Installed, serviced, and maintained enterprise phone and network systems for commercial clients, improving system uptime and reliability
  • Diagnosed and resolved network and hardware issues, reducing downtime and improving customer satisfaction
  • Delivered technical recommendations to clients, enabling cost-effective and scalable infrastructure upgrades
  • Received positive feedback from clients due to exceptional customer service skills and extensive technical knowledge.
  • Managed multiple projects simultaneously while adhering to strict deadlines, resulting in successful completion of tasks.
  • Maintained a high level of professionalism and confidentiality while working on sensitive client systems, earning trust and fostering long-term relationships.
  • Improved customer satisfaction by providing timely and efficient technical support onsite.

Education

Computer Science

Macomb Community College
Warren, MI

General Studies

Henry Ford Community College
Dearborn, MI

High School Diploma - undefined

Riverview Community High School
Riverview, MI

Skills

    Product & Strategy

  • Product roadmapping
  • Vision definition
  • Cross-functional leadership
  • Stakeholder management
  • Product lifecycle
  • Portfolio strategy

    • Program Delivery

  • Program planning & scheduling
  • Risk mitigation
  • Compliance & quality
  • Budget/resource oversight
  • Agile/SAFe execution
  • Gap analysis

    Data & Process Optimization

  • Power BI dashboarding
  • Complexity analysis
  • KPI development & tracking
  • Agile release management
  • Six Sigma process

    • Technical Systems Integration

  • Hardware/software standardization
  • Systems validation
  • Supplier coordination
  • Jira & Confluence management
  • Analytics tooling
  • Contract negotiations

Certification

  • SAFe
  • Six Sigma

Awards and Patents

Trade Secret Patent – Electrical Architecture Complexity Reduction (2024)

Timeline

High School Diploma - undefined

Riverview Community High School

Staff Vehicle Product Manager

General Motors
2024 - Current

Senior Product Manager – Electrical Architecture Complexity

General Motors
2022 - Current

Infotainment Program Manager – Global Crossovers & Full-Sized Truck

General Motors
2019 - Current

Program Manager – Low Cost Radio

General Motors
2016 - Current

Infotainment Software Integration

General Motors
2012 - Current

Software Application Support – Site Lead

Movimento
2011 - 2012

On Site Technician

ALJ Solutions
2008 - 2011

Computer Science

Macomb Community College

General Studies

Henry Ford Community College

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Richard Papp