Senior Technical Account Manager

Yokohama Tire Corporation; Detroit, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Yokohama Tire Corporation is seeking a Senior Technical Account Manager-OE to act as the main technical liaison with vehicle manufacturers. You will coordinate between the customer, the tire development team, and corporate quality to support OE sales and development efforts.

Responsibilities include managing RFQ processes, aligning tire specs with OE requirements, and guiding testing and validation with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in technical sales, account management, or project management within the automotive industry (preferably tires).
• 5+ years as engineering interface at a Tier 1 supplier.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with OE manufacturers.
• Serve as primary technical contact for RFQ, development, and product launches.
• Obtain and negotiate technical requirements during RFQ and manage through project lifecycle.
• Understand tire specifications, performance metrics, and industry standards.
• Provide technical guidance on tire selection, testing, and validation.
• Act as technical expert during OE interactions.
• Collaborate with R&D, production, and QA to meet OE requirements.
• Manage project timelines and deliverables for on-time delivery.
• Conduct quality assessments and audits for OE specs compliance.
• Address quality issues with relevant teams.
• Monitor industry trends and provide benchmarking insights.
• Maintain records of client communications and project details.
• Prepare reports/presentations for stakeholders and clients.

Skills

Tire knowledge

Quality standards (IATF16949, PPAP, PF

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

Summary

The Senior Technical Account Manager-OE serves as the main technical liaison with vehicle manufacturers and facilitates coordination between the customer, the tire development team, and corporate quality. This role plays a vital part in supporting the OE sales team and development team by offering expertise in upcoming projects, RFQ support, OE development interface.

The Technical Account Manager-OE will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the seamless integration of tires into OE vehicles, effectively meeting the needs of both customers and the company.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with OE manufacturers.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all technical inquiries and support throughout the Request for Quotation (RFQ), Development, Product Launch, and the entire lifecycle of the tire.
• Obtain and negotiate technical requirements during the Request for Quotation (RFQ) process and continue to manage and negotiate these requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Understand tire specifications, performance metrics, and industry standards.
• Provide technical guidance and support to clients regarding tire selection, testing, and validation.
• Act as the technical expert during interactions with OE customers, providing in-depth knowledge and guidance on all technical aspects related to tires.
• Collaborate with internal departments (R&D, production, quality assurance) to meet OE requirements.
• Manage project timelines and deliverables to ensure on-time delivery of products.
• Conduct quality assessments and audits to ensure tire compliance with OE specifications.
• Address any quality issues or concerns in collaboration with relevant teams.
• Monitor industry trends, market demands, and competitor activities related to OE tire offerings.
• Provide insights and recommendations for benchmarking, product improvements and market positioning.
• Maintain accurate records of client communications, project details, and technical specifications.
• Prepare reports and presentations for internal stakeholders and clients as needed.
• Facilitates the formal communication of relevant information to the appropriate internal departments.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of tire industry, design, manufacturing, quality, and testing.
• Automotive industry approval and launch processes and quality requirements.
• IATF16949, PPAP, PFMEA, DFMEA.
• Ability to communicate well with numerous internal and external parties in a manner that positions you as a trusted partner.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in technical sales, account management, or project management within the automotive industry, with a preference for candidates with specific experience in the tire industry.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience as an engineering interface at a Tier 1 supplier.
• In-depth knowledge of tire technology, manufacturing processes, and industry standards.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, adapting to various challenges effectively.

Physical Requirements

• Flexibility to travel as necessary for client meetings and industry events, with an expected travel time of up to 40%.
• Required to ride with professional drivers during tire testing.
• Assist with tire handling or sorting during testing as needed.