About the company
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Automotive Market Development Engineer based in the United States.
Responsibilities
- Manage development activities associated with thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) materials
- Identify strategic automotive markets, target customers, application opportunities, and material requirements
- Pursue new business opportunities through customer engagement, market development, and technical consultation
- Collaborate with product development engineers to create material solutions that address customer requirements
- Interpret sample and testing results and provide customers with data sheets and relevant physical property information
- Coordinate and participate in customer molding trials, providing technical feedback to guide future material development
- Prepare and present formalized data packages for customer material approvals
- Work with converters, Tier suppliers, and OEMs to achieve and document product approvals
- Support non-automotive applications within the assigned geography
- Promote products and technical capabilities through customer-facing activities and business development efforts
- Respond promptly to customer inquiries and complaints while supporting customer satisfaction
- Maintain call reports and monthly activity summaries related to customer engagements
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering, science, or an equivalent field, and/or 5–7 years of experience working with elastomeric materials, preferably, or plastics in the automotive industry
- At least 5 years of experience in the automotive sector
- Strong technical knowledge of plastics and/or rubber materials and technologies
- Demonstrated ability to use technical expertise to identify and develop new business opportunities
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong, long-term customer relationships
- Experience collaborating effectively with commercial and product development teams
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Self-starter with a strong sense of urgency
- Well organized and capable of managing multiple technical and commercial activities
- Proficiency with basic computer applications, including word-processing and spreadsheet software
- Strong time-management skills and the ability to work independently with limited support
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently, generally more than 50%, including potential international travel
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
Conditions
- Remote work opportunity based in Michigan, ideally eastern Michigan, or northern Ohio
- Opportunity to combine materials engineering, technical development, customer engagement, and business development
- Direct involvement with automotive converters, Tier suppliers, and OEMs
- Exposure to TPE materials, product development, customer molding trials, and material approval processes
- Significant customer-facing responsibility and ownership of market development activities
- Frequent travel and potential international exposure
- Salary requirements can be discussed as part of the hiring process