Technical Sales Engineer - Automotive R&D

Job Title: Technical Sales Engineer (R&D Engineering)

Location: Litchfield, MI (Onsite)

Duration: Full Time / Direct Hire

Direct Client Need

Industry: Automotive

Department: Automotive R&D Engineering

Role Overview:

• We are seeking a highly skilled Technical Sales Engineer to join our Automotive Client's R&D Engineering team.
• In this dynamic role, you will bridge the gap between innovation and market execution, serving as the essential technical conduit between our clients and internal engineering teams.
• You will proactively engage with existing and potential customers, analyze complex engineering requirements, and showcase our cutting-edge product developments.
• If you possess strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, hands-on 3D modeling skills, and exceptional client-facing communication, this role offers an exciting opportunity to drive long-term product roadmaps and commercial success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Initiate and maintain strong contact with potential and existing customers to demonstrate current R&D product developments, breakthrough capabilities, and technical solutions.
• Conduct deep technical discussions to thoroughly evaluate customer-specific requirements, identifying new product design opportunities or enhancements to existing systems.
• Act as the core technical link between customers and internal engineering teams; transform customer feedback and complex field requirements into clear, actionable engineering design inputs.
• Closely support RFQ (Request for Quotation) activities, ensuring all underlying technical specifications are transparently understood and accurately captured in commercial proposals.
• Maintain an exhaustive understanding of company product lines, manufacturing processes, and specific material configurations (e.g., ultrasonic welding capabilities, material compatibility).
• Perform competitor benchmarking and monitor evolving industry trends to actively steer our future R&D strategies and long-term product roadmaps.

Core Competencies & Required Skills:

• 3–5 years of experience in product engineering, technical sales, or business development—ideally within the automotive or manufacturing sectors.
• 4-year degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or an equivalent technical discipline.
• Strong working knowledge of critical manufacturing practices, including Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Hands-on ability to use 3D software to open, manipulate, evaluate, and section complex design models.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to distill and articulate highly complex technical concepts into clear language for non-technical stakeholders.
• Natural capability to foster trusted, long-term working relationships across diverse customer departments, ranging from technical engineering groups to commercial purchasing teams.
• Expert command of the Microsoft Office Suite; hands-on experience using customer relationship management (CRM) platforms (e.g., Salesforce) is highly preferred.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• Comfortable operating in an open-seating office environment with the flexibility to adapt and change physical desk locations daily as team demands shift.
• Willingness to undergo periodic travel via air, car, or train to visit other company operations, clients, and suppliers.
• Ability to safely lift and move equipment or samples up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to maintain high focus within a lively open office structure that includes background noise from cell phones, active group collaborative sessions, and virtual meetings.