Yamaha Fine Technologies is an automotive supplier manufacturing real material interior trims for the automotive sector. The team located in the U.S. works with internal & external stakeholders for developing interior trims and creating value by managing customers’ relationships in North America.
Purpose of Role
Provide effective technical and design proposals to improve customer satisfaction and win new programs and new business. This is a remote position based in Detroit, MI.
Key Accountabilities Include
Lead sales engineering activities to ensure accurate, timely, and high‑quality technical support to customers across multiple programs.
Ensure customer requirements are fully understood and translated into feasible designs
Manage product development timelines and technical deliverables
Drive effective technical communication with customers and internal stakeholders
Ensure material and validation compliance to support production readiness
Support customer satisfaction through quality and issue resolution
Contribute to technology development, team capability, and continuous improvement
Primary Responsibilities Include
Manage multiple program timelines, ensuring on‑time customer approvals for tools, designs, prototypes, and validation milestones.
Work closely with customers, Japan team, production, materials, and quality teams to ensure clear understanding of requirements and feasible, manufacturable solutions.
Provide technical input, feasibility assessment, and solution development to support new customer opportunities and future programs.
Prepare and manage quality deliverables (PPAP, APQP, AAR, FTN) and support investigation and resolution of quality events with customers and internal teams.
Support benchmarking of competitor technologies and communicate emerging engineering concepts and capabilities to customers and YCJ.
Serve as a subject‑matter expert in manufacturing processes, materials, and design principles, while training and mentoring junior sales engineers.
Core Functional Competencies
Project Integration: Ensure that all of a project's work elements are coordinated, including project planning and execution processes
Project Management: Plans, organizes, and manages tasks and resources to bring about successful completion of a specific project.
Quality Control: Maintain curriculum and instruction quality standards
Consultative Sales Skills: Ability to alleviate channel partner's pain points and recommend products and services that meet channel partners' needs
Customer/Dealer Problem Resolution: Gather and analyze information to understand root causes of issues and determine appropriate solutions
Technical Product Acumen: Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Yamaha's products and services
Core Behavioral Competencies
Yamaha Way (Will, Integrity, Initiative, Challenge, Commitment)
Customer Focus
Instills Trust
Drives Results
Manages Conflict
Develops Talent
Ensures Accountability
Qualifications
Ideal
Strong technical background in product design, manufacturing processes, and feasibility analysis
Proven ability to coordinate cross‑functional teams across engineering, production, quality, and materials
Experience managing multiple programs, timelines, and customer deliverables simultaneously
Effective communication and negotiation skills with customers, suppliers, and stakeholders
Travel up to 50%, including international travel
Preferred
Experience providing technical leadership or mentoring within an engineering team
Experience in the automotive industry, particularly supporting OEM customers
Knowledge of plastic injection molding and related manufacturing processes
Background working with multi-region teams, international customers, or programs involving cross-border engineering collaboration
Familiarity with automotive product launch and quality processes (e.g., APQP, PPAP, DV/PV)
Demonstrated ability to support customer‑facing engineering discussions and negotiations
Live in the Detroit metropolitan area
Here’s What We’ll Bring
Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Vision, Dental, LTD, Life-Insurance and 401k with match AND automatic contributions
Performance based bonus program
Robust employee wellness programs including free music lessons
Generous Wellness reimbursement program
Tobacco cessation reward program
Private concerts from award winning artists
Discounted hotel, travel, entertainment, and other attractions
Employee product purchase program
Casual dress
Vacation, sick-time and personal floating holidays
Monthly events, for example -- Bring Your Dog to Work Day, Employee Singing Competitions, Spirit Week and other fun events
Inclusive and passionate culture
We foster a culture in which everyone feels welcomed, included, and valued; and recognize that diversity contributes to the success of Yamaha