Senior Business Development Manager – Automotive

Blue Signal Search; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Signal Search is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager – Automotive in Detroit, MI. This hybrid role targets the North American automotive market and requires the ability to open doors, earn credibility with engineering teams, and translate complex technical conversations into design wins.

You will pursue major programs, develop strategic accounts, and influence growth across the Detroit automotive ecosystem by mapping stakeholders, guiding opportunities from discovery to design

Qualifications

• Experience selling technical components in automotive systems.
• Strong understanding of OEM and Tier supplier environments.
• Proven ability to prospect into new organizations.
• Ability to map stakeholders in target accounts.

Responsibilities

• Create a focused pipeline of new automotive opportunities across OEM and supplier organizations.
• Map engineering, sourcing, program, and commercial stakeholders to determine where technical and purchasing influence sits within target accounts.
• Guide technical opportunities from initial discovery through specification and design selection.
• Partner with customer engineers to connect component capabilities with application requirements and support technically informed commercial discussions.
• Build entry strategies for complex accounts where multiple organizations and decision makers influence the final solution.
• Coordinate with distributors and independent sales partners while maintaining direct ownership of priority customer relationships.
• Prioritize high value programs and maintain disciplined opportunity plans that support long term market growth.

Skills

Automotive industry

Technical components

Design in sales

DFMEA

Engineering collaboration

Job description

Senior Business Development Manager – Automotive

Hybrid in Detroit, MI

Our client is an established global technology organization looking to accelerate its growth within the North American automotive market. This is a high impact opportunity for an experienced automotive business development professional who knows how to open doors, earn credibility with engineering teams, and turn complex technical conversations into design wins. Rather than inheriting a mature portfolio, this individual will have the opportunity to pursue major automotive programs, develop strategic accounts, and directly influence the expansion of the business across the Detroit automotive ecosystem.

This Role Offers:

• Competitive executive level base compensation plus performance based bonus opportunity.
• A hybrid position centered in one of the world’s most important automotive markets.
• Exposure to sophisticated technical products that become part of larger automotive systems and applications.
• Opportunity to pursue large strategic OEM and supplier programs with meaningful long term revenue potential.

Focus:

• Create a focused pipeline of new automotive opportunities across OEM and supplier organizations.
• Map engineering, sourcing, program, and commercial stakeholders to determine where technical and purchasing influence sits within target accounts.
• Guide technical opportunities from initial discovery through specification and design selection.
• Use knowledge of DFMEA and vehicle development workflows to recognize when and how a component can gain consideration within a program.
• Partner with customer engineers to connect component capabilities with application requirements and support technically informed commercial discussions.
• Build entry strategies for complex accounts where multiple organizations and decision makers influence the final solution.
• Coordinate with distributors and independent sales partners while maintaining direct ownership of priority customer relationships.
• Prioritize high value programs and maintain disciplined opportunity plans that support long term market growth.

Skill Set:

• Automotive industry experience with a strong understanding of OEM and Tier supplier environments.
• Proven success selling technical components that become part of a larger engineered automotive system or design.
• Experience with design in sales cycles that require meaningful collaboration with customer engineering teams.
• Working knowledge of DFMEA and the broader automotive development process.
• Understanding of how engineering, purchasing, contract management, manufacturers, integrators, and suppliers contribute to technical and commercial decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to prospect into new organizations, establish relationships, and develop accounts without relying on an inherited customer portfolio.
• Consultative sales skills with the technical aptitude to establish credibility with engineers while effectively managing commercial stakeholders.
• Experience selling sensors is helpful but not required. Candidates who have sold boards, electronic components, engineered hardware, or similarly technical products into automotive applications are encouraged to apply.
• Ability to operate independently in a growth focused role while collaborating effectively with technical, channel, and international teams.