[Hiring] Product Manager- Customer Engineering @International Recruiting LLC

Role Description

We are seeking a strategic and highly technical Product Manager, Customer Engineering to serve as the critical bridge between our OEM customers, product definition teams, and engineering execution. In this pivotal role, you will connect customer needs, product vision, and technical execution to translate ambiguous customer intent into concrete product reality and production readiness. You will be the primary technical interface for our automotive clients, ensuring that our solutions in glass, optics, and exterior systems not only meet but exceed their stringent requirements. By combining strong business acumen with deep engineering knowledge, you will drive early engagement, shape product architecture, and guide cross-functional teams from initial concept through to Start of Production (SOP).

Key Responsibilities

• Customer Engagement & Opportunity Development:
  • Build and nurture strong, trust-based relationships with OEM Engineering, Purchasing, and Design Studio teams.
  • Identify key decision-makers and drive early technical engagement to position our company as a preferred partner.
  • Understand customer pain points and future vehicle architectures, converting these insights into formal RFQs and securing design win opportunities.
• Product Definition & Technical Interface:
  • Lead comprehensive product definition, encompassing optical performance, mechanical integration, and overall system architecture.
  • Drive complex technical discussions with customers, acting as the definitive voice of the product.
  • Translate ambiguous or high-level customer inputs into clear, actionable engineering requirements for internal development teams.
• New Product Introduction (NPI) & Program Execution:
  • Take ownership of the product lifecycle from concept through execution.
  • Manage prototype builds, track development milestones, and ensure on-time delivery of critical project phases.
  • Coordinate and lead cross-functional teams—spanning R&D, manufacturing, quality, and sales—to ensure alignment and mitigate risks throughout the development process.
• Supply Chain & Industrialization:
  • Support the sourcing of critical materials and components required for your product lines.
  • Partner closely with factory teams to validate feasibility from the initial concept phase through to SOP, ensuring quality and cost targets are met.
• Strategic & Competitive Intelligence:
  • Monitor the automotive landscape to identify emerging trends in exterior systems, optics, and EV architectures.
  • Analyze competitor offerings and market shifts to inform our long-term product roadmap, ensuring our solutions remain innovative and highly competitive in the North American market.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in product management, customer engineering, or technical program management within the automotive industry.
• Extensive experience working with Automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, or EV manufacturers.
• Demonstrated expertise with automotive glass, optics, lighting, or exterior systems is highly preferred.
• Proven track record of collaborating with OEM Design Studio teams and navigating the complex approval processes of automotive design.
• Deep understanding of the full automotive product lifecycle, including Proof of Concept (POC), New Product Introduction (NPI), and Start of Production (SOP).
• Familiarity with North American OEM development processes, quality standards (e.g., APQP, PPAP), and business practices.

Core Capabilities & Skills

• Exceptional ability to present complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences, from engineering teams to executive leadership.
• Proven ability to translate high-level customer needs and market trends into detailed, actionable product definitions and engineering specifications.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, ensuring milestones and deliverables are met.
• Solid understanding of product costing, margin analysis, and the commercial implications of engineering decisions.
• Comfortable and effective working in a global, cross-cultural environment, bridging communication gaps between international teams and local customers.
• Fluent in English (both written and spoken); proficiency in additional languages relevant to global automotive manufacturing is a plus.