Sales Application Engineer

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Pty; Plymouth (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K Match

Performance Related Bonus

Vacation

Paid Holidays

Health Insurance

Job summary

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, based in Plymouth, MI, is seeking a Sales Application Engineer to act as the primary technical liaison for automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. You will drive growth by identifying opportunities and leading programs from quotation to launch with cross-functional teams.

The role requires a strong engineering background, 5+ years in automotive customer-facing roles, and the ability to travel across North America as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of customer-facing application engineering or related experience in the automotive industry.
• Experience with automotive OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers in driveline, eAxle, transmission, axle, PTU, powertrain, or related vehicle systems.
• Understanding of APQP, DVP&R, product validation, launch support, warranty analysis, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience with engineered elastomers, sealing systems, polymers, or other engineered automotive components preferred.
• Strong communication, presentation, and sales-support abilities.
• Willingness to travel across North America.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical interface for assigned automotive OEM and Tier 1 customer accounts, building strong relationships with engineering, quality, purchasing, and manufacturing stakeholders.
• Drive new business growth by identifying application opportunities, supporting technical sales discussions, and promoting sealing solutions, engineered elastomers, and high-performance plastic technologies.
• Lead customer programs from quotation through launch by coordinating technical requirements, project timing, open issues, deliverables, and cross-functional activities with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program management teams.
• Translate customer requirements into actionable engineering specifications and ensure alignment between customer expectations and internal product development teams.
• Support product design, validation, testing, warranty investigations, and root cause analysis activities while recommending technical solutions that improve performance, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Present technical recommendations, program updates, test results, and value engineering initiatives to customers while supporting commercial strategies that increase market share and profitability.
• Act as the voice of the customer within the organization by proactively resolving technical issues, removing communication barriers, and ensuring timely responses to engineering, quality, and program-related requests.

Skills

Customer-facing communication

Project management

Analytical thinking

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Working at Freudenberg: \"We will wow your world!\" This is our promise. As a global technology group, we not only make the world cleaner, healthier and more comfortable, but also offer our 52,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually. Be surprised and experience your own wow moments.

We at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies run the business operations of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) in the Americas. Being part of the global Freudenberg Group, our company is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for automotive and general industries. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a joint venture between Freudenberg and NOK Corp. in Japan, is headquartered in Plymouth, MI, operates more than 20 facilities and employs about 4,700 people across the Americas.

Some of your Benefits

401K Match:

Save for retirement with the company's help.

Performance Related Bonus:

When you have an impact, you can reap the rewards.

Vacation:

We offer time off to refresh and recharge.

Paid Holidays:

With paid-time off, local holidays are all the way more relaxing.

Health Insurance:

Rely on comprehensive services whenever you need it.

Plymouth, MI

Hybrid Work

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership

Sales Application Engineer

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical interface for assigned automotive OEM and Tier 1 customer accounts, building strong relationships with engineering, quality, purchasing, and manufacturing stakeholders.
• Drive new business growth by identifying application opportunities, supporting technical sales discussions, and promoting sealing solutions, engineered elastomers, and high-performance plastic technologies.
• Lead customer programs from quotation through launch by coordinating technical requirements, project timing, open issues, deliverables, and cross-functional activities with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program management teams.
• Translate customer requirements into actionable engineering specifications and ensure alignment between customer expectations and internal product development teams.
• Support product design, validation, testing, warranty investigations, and root cause analysis activities while recommending technical solutions that improve performance, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Present technical recommendations, program updates, test results, and value engineering initiatives to customers while supporting commercial strategies that increase market share and profitability.
• Act as the voice of the customer within the organization by proactively resolving technical issues, removing communication barriers, and ensuring timely responses to engineering, quality, and program-related requests.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of customer-facing application engineering, product engineering, sales engineering, or program engineering experience within the automotive industry.
• Proven experience supporting automotive OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers in driveline, eAxle, transmission, axle, PTU, powertrain, or related vehicle systems.
• Strong understanding of automotive development processes including APQP, DVP&R, product validation, launch support, warranty analysis, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience with engineered elastomers, sealing systems, polymers, plastics, or other engineered automotive components preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts, lead customer presentations, influence decisions, and support technical sales activities.
• Strong project management, analytical, and relationship-building skills with the ability to manage multiple customer programs and travel throughout North America as required.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.