Automotive Business Development Manager - ICE Powertrain | US-Based Only

Straffing AI; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 101,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Straffing AI seeks an experienced Automotive Business Development Manager for its Romulus, MI base. This fully onsite role focuses on expanding Tier 1/2 partnerships, OEM relationships and ICE powertrain components.

You will identify new customers, manage RFQs, negotiate contracts and drive year-over-year revenue growth with a hands-on commercial approach, leveraging deep industry knowledge.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of automotive sales/business development experience.
• Direct experience with automotive OEM, Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier ecosystem.
• Proven track record selling ICE powertrain, engineered metal or related components.
• Experience navigating RFQs, quotations and program awards.

Responsibilities

• Identify, pursue and win new automotive customers, accounts and programs.
• Maintain and grow a defined portfolio of existing customer relationships.
• Develop new-business and market-entry strategies for targeted customers and product categories.
• Manage opportunities through RFQs, quotations, sourcing activities, negotiations and awards.
• Lead customer meetings, commercial presentations and contract negotiations.
• Develop relationships with purchasing, sourcing, engineering and other stakeholders.
• Build and manage a disciplined sales pipeline with regular reporting.

Skills

Automotive sales experience

RFQ/quotations

Negotiation

Relationship building

New business development

Self-directed

Job description

Automotive Business Development Manager - ICE Powertrain

Location: Romulus, Michigan - Detroit Metropolitan Area

Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Employment Type: Full-time

Base Salary: $101,000-$120,000

Additional Compensation: Discretionary quarterly bonus + automotive/phone reimbursement

Travel: Up to 40%

Visa Sponsorship: Not available

Relocation Assistance: Not available

About the Role

We are hiring an experienced Automotive Business Development Manager for a Tier 1/Tier 2 automotive supplier specializing in ICE powertrain and engineered metal components.

This is a hands-on commercial role for an experienced automotive sales professional who can both grow existing customer relationships and actively develop new OEM, Tier 1 and Tier 2 business.

The ideal candidate will bring strong knowledge of automotive component sales, established experience navigating RFQs and quotations, and a demonstrated record of personally winning new programs and growing customer accounts.

This is not an entry-level BDR or inside-sales position. We are looking for an established automotive business-development professional with relevant OEM/Tier supplier experience.

What You’ll Do

• Identify, pursue and win new automotive customers, accounts and programs.
• Maintain and grow a defined portfolio of existing customer relationships.
• Develop new-business and market-entry strategies for targeted customers and product categories.
• Manage opportunities through the complete commercial cycle, including RFQs, quotations, sourcing activities, negotiations and program awards.
• Lead customer meetings, commercial presentations and contract negotiations.
• Develop relationships with purchasing, sourcing, engineering and other key customer stakeholders.
• Build and manage a disciplined sales pipeline and provide regular activity and opportunity reporting.
• Work closely with engineering, operations and other internal teams to develop commercially viable customer solutions.
• Represent the organization during customer visits, industry events and trade shows.
• Identify opportunities for year-over-year account growth and expansion into new programs.

What We’re Looking For

• 5–10+ years of automotive or closely related industrial sales/business-development experience.
• Direct experience working within the automotive OEM, Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier ecosystem.
• Demonstrated experience selling ICE powertrain, engineered metal or related automotive components.
• Strong familiarity with products such as:
• Cylinder liners
• Piston rings
• Pistons and engine components
• Castings
• Forgings
• Braking components
• Comparable powertrain or engineered metal products
• Proven experience managing the automotive RFQ, quotation, sourcing, negotiation and program-award process.
• Ability to provide clear examples of new business personally secured and customer accounts successfully grown.
• Strong commercial negotiation and relationship-development capabilities.
• Comfortable engaging directly with purchasing, sourcing and engineering stakeholders.
• Self-directed, persistent and commercially driven, with a strong new-business-development mindset.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required, up to approximately 40%.
• Experience selling to Japanese automotive OEMs is highly desirable.

Location Requirements

This position is fully onsite in Romulus, Michigan.

Candidates should already reside within a reasonable commuting distance of Romulus or be independently prepared to relocate before starting.

No relocation assistance is available.

Work Authorization

Candidates must already be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

The employer is unable to provide current or future employment visa sponsorship.

Compensation & Benefits

The base salary range for this position is $101,000-$120,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Additional compensation and benefits include:

• Discretionary quarterly bonus
• Automotive/phone reimbursement
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Performance-based growth opportunities

Who Will Excel Here

This opportunity is particularly well suited to an automotive sales professional who understands both the technical product and commercial side of the business - someone who can walk into an OEM or Tier supplier conversation, understand the application, navigate an RFQ, negotiate commercially and ultimately convert the opportunity into awarded business.

If your background combines automotive component knowledge, OEM/Tier customer relationships and a consistent record of winning new business, we would like to hear from you.