Product Engineering Specialist

Job Description:

Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. ("Axalta," or the "Company"), is a leading global manufacturer, marketer and distributor of high-performance coatings systems.  With over a 150-year heritage in the coatings industry, Axalta is known for manufacturing high-quality products with well-recognized brands supported by market-leading technology and customer service.

Over the course of the Company's history, Axalta has remained at the forefront of the industry by continually developing innovative coatings technologies designed to enhance the performance and appearance of customers' products, while improving the customer's productivity and profitability. Axalta's diverse global footprint of 50 manufacturing facilities, four technology centers, 47 customer training centers and more than 14,000 team members allows the Company to meet the needs of customers in over 130 countries. Axalta serves its customer base through an extensive sales force and technical support organization, as well as through approximately 4,000 independent, locally-based distributors. The Company's scale and strong local presence are critical to its success, allowing leverage of the technology portfolio and customer relationships globally while meeting customer demands locally.

Axalta operates its business in two operating segments: Performance Coatings and Transportation Coatings, serving four end markets, including:  Refinish, Industrial, Light Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle, across the following four regions: North America, EMEA, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

We are searching for a Product Engineering Specialist to join our team in Troy, MI!

In this role you will support developing and implementing program/product strategies in support of Axalta’s Services Strategy. Provide technical expertise to customers in support of our automotive coatings’ portfolio including the development and application of products, processing techniques and resolution of complex problems. Support and lead projects delivering new products to the market. Coordinate the activities of other functions (Technology, Marketing, Sales, and Operations) and other business units in support of the product strategies. 

Product Engineering Strategic Functions:

• Support the development and management of critical relationships with customer engineering and manufacturing team members within the assigned customer base to support overall growth plan.
• Serve as technical spokesperson to customer materials engineering and paint manufacturing groups.
• Provide a Voice of Customer to the Axalta Sales, Marketing, Technical, and Manufacturing functions.
• Deliver technology reviews and reports to the customer.
• Lead product quality investigations/complaints with recognized problem-solving.
• Prepare and maintain monthly plant quality reports for customers.
• Support new product launches and technology transfers.
• Manage customer product approvals.
• Support and manage PDCA meetings and processes.
• Manage customer projects (LWRs, EPMs, and NPPs) and prioritize project portfolio.
• Contribute technical expertise in translating product data into effective marketing and sales tools.
• Assist the Product Engineering Manager in aligning customer product approvals with Axalta strategies.
• Support Defining VMI requirements and seek VMI improvement opportunities to implement.

Culture Champion:

• Cultivate a strong team culture by enhancing and building highly effective and collaborative cross-functional relationships throughout the business.
• Through integrity and dependability, build relationships at all levels to help support change initiatives that help teams deliver value.
• Continuously identify ways to improve by engaging with staff and bringing perspective on new ideas.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related natural sciences curriculum required.
• Ability to speak Japanese fluently and have understanding of Japanese business customs and culture.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work with all levels of the organization and customers.
• Experience providing problem-solving and analytical skills with data-based decision-making capability.
• Familiarity with problem-solving tools such as 8D, 5-why, Kepner Tregoe, etc.
• Experience understanding customer needs and translating them into product offerings / solutions.
• Proficiency in MS Office required.
• Ability to collaborate and build teamwork is essential.
• Ability to travel up to 35% required.