Technical Program Manager

Samsung SDI America Inc•Auburn Hills, MI

14d

About The Position

This role focuses on managing technical programs within the battery development sector, specifically for xEV and Power Tool Batteries. The Technical Program Manager will act as a key liaison between customers and the company's headquarters (HQ), ensuring clear communication of technical requirements, project milestones, and customer feedback. The position involves identifying new business opportunities, providing technical solutions, and building strong customer relationships. The role also requires staying updated on industry trends and market intelligence within the Li-battery industry.

Requirements

Good understanding of battery cell & module/pack designs, electrochemistry, or battery system integration.
Experience in a customer-facing technical role, preferably in the Li-ion battery, or EV industry.
Bachelor's degree or higher in Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.

Nice To Haves

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, both in technical and business contexts.
Ability to interpret and explain complex technical discussions in a simple and clear way.
Ability to prepare clear emails, reports, presentations, and meeting minutes.
Experience working in cross-functional environments across engineering, product, and commercial teams.
Skill at managing multiple projects and tasks in parallel.
High sense of responsibility and responsiveness.
Strong customer relationship management skills.
Experience working with international organizations in Asia or Europe.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally when needed.
Adaptability to working with multiple time zones including handling frequent early morning and evening calls.
Adaptability to fast-paced environments with tight deadlines.
Curiosity and adaptability to evolving battery technologies and market trends.

Responsibilities

Identify and develop new business opportunities through technical promotion and customer engagement.
Collaborate with sales and product planning teams to understand customer needs and provide technical solutions to secure contracts.
Coordinate with HQ cell & module/pack development and program management teams to align on customer requirements, technical specifications, and project milestones until mass production launch.
Participate in customer meetings, collect feedback, and provide real-time communication between customer and HQ to support development activities.
Act as the main technical contact between customers and Korea HQ, ensuring clear and timely communication of customer needs, preferences, and trends.
Build and maintain strong technical relationships with key stakeholders at customer organizations.
Provide timely responses to customer inquiries and help solve technical issues efficiently.
Demonstrate a customer-first mindset focused on trust-building and long-term relationships.
Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Support internal and external communication with clear reports, technical presentations, and meeting summaries.
Build networks across the North America Li-battery industry, including potential customers and suppliers.
Participate in industry events and technical forums to stay updated on new technologies, market trends, and the competition landscape.
Comply with requirements of the Quality Operating System (QOS) in accordance with ISO 9001:2008.
Identify concerns and initiate corrective actions (through verification) relating to product, process, and quality systems.
Initiate preventative and continuous improvement actions relating to product, process, and quality systems.
Follow safe work procedures established by the Company and follow OH&S directions.
Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety systems.
Wear and maintain PPE as directed, as indicated in a risk assessment, or as required in OH&S procedures.
Use other safety and emergency equipment provided in the workplace as directed or as required in OH&S procedures.
Assist with the preparation of risk assessments.
Conduct a risk assessment to identify, assess, and control hazards associated with work or research in conjunction with other relevant staff, researchers, and the supervisor.
Report OH&S problems.
Report workplace hazards to the supervisor as soon as possible after they occur.
Report injury or illness arising from workplace activities using the incident/injury reporting system as soon as possible after the incident.
Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions.
Complete monthly H&S inspections.