Business Development

Automotive Business Line Driveline

Job title:                    Business Development NAM – Driveline

Organization:           Automotive Business Line Driveline

Location:                  Plymouth, MI 

Salary:                      $104,000-$125,000 

SKF’s Automotive Business Line Driveline is seeking a technically proficient, strategically minded professional to accelerate the growth of our advanced product and solution portfolio across Powertrain and Drive Control applications. This demands deep expertise in manufacturing feasibility, machinery installation, cost modeling, and bearing technologies—particularly ball bearings and TRBs (Tapered Roller Bearings)—to drive profitable, sustainable business development in a dynamic global market.

Core Technical Responsibilities

• End-to-End RFQ Management: Lead technical and commercial evaluations of RFQs, including risk assessments, cost simulations (fixed and variable), and pricing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Manufacturing Feasibility & Investment Analysis: Assess factory capabilities, machinery installation requirements, and capital investment needs to support new product introductions and localization strategies.
• Cycle Time & Process Optimization: Analyze and model manufacturing cycle times to ensure operational efficiency and alignment with customer expectations.
• Bearing Technology Expertise: Apply advanced knowledge of ball bearings and TRBs to support product design, application engineering, and competitive benchmarking.
• BV Tool Mastery: Utilize the BV (Business Validation) tool to perform detailed cost breakdowns, profitability simulations, and strategic pricing decisions.
• Project Leadership: Drive business opportunities from quotation to customer nomination (ETO process), ensuring seamless handover to Customer Project Management and supporting through SOP.
• Portfolio Profitability Management: Collaborate with Product Lines, Controlling, and Manufacturing to execute profitability recovery plans and optimize the Driveline product portfolio.
• Integrated Cost Reduction (ICR): Define cost-reduction targets and initiatives in coordination with Purchasing, based on market intelligence and business needs.
• Strategic Market Analysis: Support NMOs and innovation projects with market research, business case development, and value proposition modeling.
• Benchmarking & Competitiveness: Identify key competitor products and derive actionable insights to enhance cost competitiveness and technical differentiation.
• Manufacturing Footprint Strategy: Provide consolidated data and recommendations for investment decisions related to production capacity, localization, and factory expansion.
• Marketing & Product Launch Support: Contribute to technical content and strategy for marketing communications, including new product introductions.

Profile Requirements

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering preferred, Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business, or Finance required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, business development, cost controlling, or technical sales within the automotive or industrial sector
• Bilingual in Spanish and English, required.
• Proven expertise in cost simulation, cycle time analysis, and manufacturing feasibility studies
• Strong understanding of bearing technologies, especially ball bearings and TRBs
• Advanced proficiency in BV tool and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Power BI, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional, multicultural teams in a matrix organization
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strategic mindset with a hands-on approach to problem-solving and decision-making
• Experience in digitalization initiatives and data-driven business modeling is a plus
• Willingness to travel internationally as required