Automotive Market Development Engineer

<p><strong>Acceptable locations for this remote role are Michigan (ideally eastern Michigan), or northern Ohio.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Summary  </strong>This position is responsible for identifying product requirements and driving technology development projects related to business growth of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds.  Requirements include strong plastics and/or rubber materials and technology skills and, excellent skills in customer relationships, business development, project management, teamwork, organization, and communication.  This person is the materials subject matter expert for the customer-facing team.</p>
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<p><strong>Duties and Responsibilities</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Responsible for managing development activities associated with TPE materials.</li>
<li>Pursues new business opportunities through diligent customer and market development efforts:
<ul>
<li>Identifies strategic markets and customers;</li>
<li>Determines material requirements and specifications for targeted applications;</li>
<li>Collaborates with Audia Elastomers product development engineers to develop material solutions to meet customer needs;</li>
<li>Interprets sample results and provides data sheets and other material physical property information to customers;</li>
<li>Coordinates and attends customer molding trials as necessary, providing feedback to product development regarding direction of future work;</li>
<li>Presents a formalized data package of developed material(s) for customer approval(s).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Interfaces with converters, Tiers, and OEMs to achieve and document Audia Elastomers product approvals.</li>
<li>May support non-automotive applications in the given geography where expertise allows, and/or where a converter serves multiple market segments.</li>
<li>Effectively promotes Audia Elastomers products and organizational capabilities.</li>
<li>Submits call reports and monthly activity summaries concerning customer-related activities as requested by manager.</li>
<li>Provides timely response to customer inquiries and complaints to ensure customer satisfaction.</li>
<li>Performs other duties and assignments as directed by manager.</li>
<li>Performs all duties safely and in compliance with documentation outlined in the Safety, Health & Environmental and defined quality management systems.</li>
</ul>
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<p><strong>Recommended Qualifications</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in engineering, science, or equivalent, and/or 5-7 years of experience with elastomeric (preferred) or plastic (acceptable) materials in the automotive industry</li>
<li>Demonstrated ability to leverage technical strength to develop new business.</li>
<li>Ability to build and maintain strong, long-term customer relationships.</li>
<li>Ability to work seamlessly with commercial and product development teams to develop appropriate strategies to address customer and/or market need(s).</li>
<li>Excellent communication skills, self-starter, sense of urgency, personable, and well organized.</li>
<li>Skilled in the use of basic computer software, including word-processing and spreadsheets.</li>
<li>Self-sufficient in terms of time management and support.</li>
</ul>
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<p><strong>Working Conditions</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Environment – Commercial and/or home office as appropriate.</li>
<li>Travel – Frequent travel, generally over 50% and can include international travel.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Responsibility for Safety, Health & Environmental</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Individual is expected to perform job duties safely and in compliance with documentation outlined in the Safety, Health & Environmental system.</li>
</ul>
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<p><strong>Responsibility for Quality</strong></p>
<p>Individual is expected to perform job duties in compliance with defined management system requirements</p>