Senior Technical Account Manager

Yokohama Tire Corporation•Detroit, MI

About The Position

The Senior Technical Account Manager-OE serves as the main technical liaison with vehicle manufacturers and facilitates coordination between the customer, the tire development team, and corporate quality. This role plays a vital part in supporting the OE sales team and development team by offering expertise in upcoming projects, RFQ support, OE development interface. The Technical Account Manager-OE will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the seamless integration of tires into OE vehicles, effectively meeting the needs of both customers and the company.

Requirements

Knowledge of tire industry, design, manufacturing, quality, and testing.
Automotive industry approval and launch processes and quality requirements.
IATF16949, PPAP, PFMEA, DFMEA.
Ability to communicate well with numerous internal and external parties in a manner that positions you as a trusted partner.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field.
A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in technical sales, account management, or project management within the automotive industry, with a preference for candidates with specific experience in the tire industry.
A minimum of 5 years of experience as an engineering interface at a Tier 1 supplier.
In-depth knowledge of tire technology, manufacturing processes, and industry standards.
Strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, adapting to various challenges effectively.
Flexibility to travel as necessary for client meetings and industry events, with an expected travel time of up to 40%.
Required to ride with professional drivers during tire testing.
Assist with tire handling or sorting during testing as needed.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain strong relationships with OE manufacturers.
Serve as the primary point of contact for all technical inquiries and support throughout the Request for Quotation (RFQ), Development, Product Launch, and the entire lifecycle of the tire.
Obtain and negotiate technical requirements during the Request for Quotation (RFQ) process and continue to manage and negotiate these requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
Understand tire specifications, performance metrics, and industry standards.
Provide technical guidance and support to clients regarding tire selection, testing, and validation.
Act as the technical expert during interactions with OE customers, providing in-depth knowledge and guidance on all technical aspects related to tires.
Collaborate with internal departments (R&D, production, quality assurance) to meet OE requirements.
Manage project timelines and deliverables to ensure on-time delivery of products.
Conduct quality assessments and audits to ensure tire compliance with OE specifications.
Address any quality issues or concerns in collaboration with relevant teams.
Monitor industry trends, market demands, and competitor activities related to OE tire offerings.
Provide insights and recommendations for benchmarking, product improvements and market positioning.
Maintain accurate records of client communications, project details, and technical specifications.
Prepare reports and presentations for internal stakeholders and clients as needed.
Facilitates the formal communication of relevant information to the appropriate internal departments.