Engineering and Business Development Manager

Flexible Metal, Inc.; Brighton (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Flexible Metal, Inc. seeks an Engineering and Business Development Manager to lead North American sales and engineering efforts from our Hamburg, MI facility.

You will align customer requirements with engineering capabilities, negotiate strategic contracts, manage risk and margin targets, and drive profitable growth across the automotive sector. This role requires collaboration across functions and a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams in a high-volume manufacturing

Qualifications

• Strong commercial acumen with a proven ability to drive profitable sales growth.
• Experience negotiating long-term customer contracts and pricing agreements.
• Solid understanding of costing, margin analysis, and financial impact of business decisions.
• Technical knowledge to effectively lead engineering and product development teams.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to balance customer needs with company profitability and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Obtain North American sales with a focus on achieving or exceeding profitable revenue and margin targets.
• Develop and execute sales strategies that prioritize high-margin, sustainable business opportunities.
• Ensure all quoting activities reflect accurate cost structures, appropriate margins, and risk considerations.
• Monitor sales performance metrics and adjust strategies to meet company financial objectives.
• Support the negotiation of customer contracts, pricing agreements, and commercial terms within North America.
• Ensure contracts protect the company’s interests, including pricing stability, cost recovery mechanisms, and risk mitigation.
• Partner with legal and leadership teams to review and approve contract language and commitments.
• Proactively identify and manage commercial and financial risks associated with customer agreements.
• Ensure engineering solutions align with cost targets, manufacturability, and customer specifications.
• Review design, technical feasibility, and product development timelines.
• Collaborate with operations, quality, and finance to ensure alignment on cost, capability, and delivery expectations.
• Ensure seamless transition from sales through product launch and production.
• Support problem resolution and customer communication throughout the product lifecycle.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities aligned with company capabilities and profitability goals.
• Represent the company in customer meetings, negotiations, and strategic discussions.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Financial impact analysis

Technical leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field

Job description

Flexible Metal is a fast growing Tier 1 company providing quality parts to the auto industry worldwide. We are looking for an Engineering and Business Development Manager to be based out of our Hamburg, MI facility.

SUMMARY

The Engineering and Business Development Manager is responsible for leading the organization’s sales and engineering functions across North America, driving profitable revenue growth that meets or exceeds company objectives. This role ensures strong alignment between customer requirements, engineering solutions, and operational capabilities while protecting the company’s long-term interests through strategic contract negotiation and risk management. The Business Development Manager plays a critical role in securing sustainable business through disciplined pricing, technical excellence, and commercially sound agreements.

ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Obtain North American sales with a focus on achieving or exceeding profitable revenue and margin targets.


• Develop and execute sales strategies that prioritize high-margin, sustainable business opportunities.


• Ensure all quoting activities reflect accurate cost structures, appropriate margins, and risk considerations.


• Monitor sales performance metrics and adjust strategies to meet company financial objectives.


• Support the negotiation of customer contracts, pricing agreements, and commercial terms within North America.


• Ensure contracts protect the company’s interests, including pricing stability, cost recovery mechanisms, and risk mitigation.


• Partner with legal and leadership teams to review and approve contract language and commitments.


• Proactively identify and manage commercial and financial risks associated with customer agreements.


• Ensure engineering solutions align with cost targets, manufacturability, and customer specifications.


• Review design, technical feasibility, and product development timelines.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with operations, quality, and finance to ensure alignment on cost, capability, and delivery expectations.


• Ensure seamless transition from sales through product launch and production.


• Support problem resolution and customer communication throughout the product lifecycle.

Customer & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders.


• Identify and pursue new business opportunities aligned with company capabilities and profitability goals.


• Represent the company in customer meetings, negotiations, and strategic discussions.

Other

• Miscellaneous projects as needed and assigned.

JOB SKILLS AND QUALIFICATION

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preferred Skills and Strengths

• Strong commercial acumen with a proven ability to drive profitable sales growth


• Experience negotiating long-term customer contracts and pricing agreements


• Solid understanding of costing, margin analysis, and financial impact of business decisions


• Technical knowledge to effectively lead engineering and product development teams


• Strong negotiation, communication, and leadership skills


• Ability to balance customer needs with company profitability and risk management


• Strategic thinking with strong execution capabilities

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field required.


• 5+ years of progressive experience in engineering, sales, or product development leadership in an automotive manufacturing environment.


• Experience in automotive or high-volume manufacturing strongly preferred.


• Proven track record of achieving sales targets while maintaining or improving profitability


• Experience with customer contract negotiation and commercial risk management required