Sr. Application Engineer

Aptiv•Troy, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

As part of Aptiv’s mission to expand into adjacent markets through the strength of our interconnect technologies, the Application Engineer (AE) plays a critical customer-facing role in the distribution channel. This position supports both technical sales enablement and engineering engagement with Aptiv’s distribution partners and their end customers. You will serve as the technical voice of Aptiv, while also being the Voice of the Customer (VoC) — identifying design-in opportunities, supporting cross-functional quoting processes, and helping win competitive displacement programs. This role demands both technical fluency and strong interpersonal and commercial awareness, with consistent engagement in the field.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering field
3+ years of experience in connector systems, cable assemblies, or vehicle electrical architecture
3+ years of experience automotive connection systems experience including Housings, Terminals and High Speed Cable Assemblies
Experience in technical customer engagement and distributor-facing support
Strong communication skills with ability to translate engineering language to customer-facing dialogue
Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% (primarily regional, including distributor branches and OEM customers).
Must be legally able to work in the United States on a permanent basis without requirement of any type of visa sponsorship or transfer now, or at any time in the future.
Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Ideal candidates will be located in the Carolinas, Boston, or Pennsylvania, allowing for efficient coverage of key distributor and customer accounts.
Prior experience working within or supporting the distribution channel (TTI, Arrow, Avnet, Masters etc.)
Experience with Aptiv or competitor connector systems (e.g., AMP, Deutsch, MX150/120/215)
Experience in Commercial Vehicle, Industrial Automation, Energy, or adjacent sectors
Familiarity with Aptiv tools such as DR process, F3X quoting, BOM scrubs, and product cross-reference databases
Ability to manage multiple technical engagements, prioritize based on impact, and follow through to opportunity conversion
Experience in ADAS, ECUs, Connectivity, Infotainment, User Experience

Responsibilities

Conduct regular virtual or in-person product training sessions with assigned TTI, Arrow, or other distributor branches.
Support lost business reviews and competitive displacement efforts by identifying high-runner parts or project gaps.
Partner with FSRs to identify target customers and connector-heavy applications within their territory.
Engage with OEMs, harness makers, and industrial customers (often in partnership with distributor FSRs or Account Managers).
Provide technical guidance on how Aptiv connectors, terminals, and cable assemblies can be integrated into the customer's product design (e.g., packaging, sealing, pin count, current handling).
Facilitate early-stage design discussions and technical reviews, influencing product selection and BOM positioning.
Support evaluation, testing, and feedback collection for Aptiv components during the development lifecycle.
Identify, document, and track new opportunities based on distributor pipeline, customer meetings, and quote reviews.
Submit and support Design Requests (DRs), cross-reference reviews, and quoting requests using Aptiv tools and templates.
Collaborate with sales and product teams to ensure technical data is aligned with commercial priorities.
Analyze customer BOMs and quote histories to identify usage of competitor products (e.g., TE, Molex, Amphenol).
Recommend Aptiv alternatives and communicate advantages in performance, sealing, or cost.
Feed insights back to sales and product teams to support targeted conversion efforts.
Act as the Voice of the Customer (VoC) by translating field feedback into actionable input for Aptiv quoting, product management, and engineering teams.
Lead cross-functional alignment around customer requirements, technical escalations, and opportunity-specific roadblocks.
Participate in internal quote reviews, DR meetings, and progress tracking to ensure customer needs remain at the center of solution delivery.