Project Manager / Account Manager in Auburn Hills

Job DescriptionJob Description

About Merit

Merit Automotive is a leading global supplier of advanced mechatronic, electronic and HMI solutions for the automotive industry. We develop innovative technologies including steering wheel switches, switch modules, control systems, antennas, and vehicle electronics for the world's leading automotive manufacturers.

As we continue to expand our North American customer portfolio, we are seeking an experienced Project Manager / Account Manager to strengthen our U.S. organization and support both program execution and customer growth activities.

This role requires presence in Merit US office in Auburn Hills at least 4 days a week.

There is no visa sponsorship provided for this role.

Position Summary

This role combines the responsibilities of a Project Manager and a Key Account Manager. The successful candidate will lead customer projects while serving as the primary customer interface for selected OEM and Tier-1 accounts.

The position requires strong project management capabilities, excellent customer relationship skills, and a solid understanding of automotive product development processes.

The ideal candidate will have experience with automotive electronics, switches, antennas, or related mechatronic products.

Key Responsibilities

Customer & Account Management

• Serve as the primary customer contact for assigned North American accounts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customer engineering, purchasing, program management, and quality teams.
• Drive customer satisfaction and act as an escalation point for commercial and program-related issues.
• Drive commercial growth activities, RFQs, quotations, and business development initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for new products, design changes, and business expansion.

Project Management

• Lead automotive product development programs from quotation through production launch and series production support.
• Manage program scope, cost, timing, quality, and risk objectives.
• Coordinate international, remote, cross-functional teams including:
• • Engineering
  • Operations
  • Manufacturing
  • Quality
  • Supply Chain
  • Commercial teams
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules and action plans.
• Lead regular project reviews with customers and internal leadership.
• Ensure successful product launches and change management.

Technical & Operational Leadership

• Understand customer technical requirements and communicate them effectively to internal teams.
• Drive change management, validation activities, and launch readiness reviews.
• Facilitate problem resolution activities related to design, quality, manufacturing, and customer concerns.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost optimization initiatives.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to automotive quality standards and customer-specific requirements.
• Perform risk identification, mitigation planning, and escalation activities.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or related field.
• PMP or similar Project Management certification is a plus.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in Automotive Program Management, Project Management, Account Management, or a combination of these disciplines.
• Experience working directly with automotive OEMs and/or Tier-1 suppliers.
• Experience leading international, remote, cross-functional teams.
• Experience managing automotive product launches.

Industry Experience

Experience with one or more of the following product categories:

• Steering Wheel Switches (SWS)
• Switch Modules
• Column Controls
• Antennas and reception systems
• Vehicle Electronics
• Mechatronic Systems
• Human Machine Interface (HMI) Products

Competencies

• Strong customer-facing communication skills
• Executive-level presentation abilities
• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Strategic thinking and commercial awareness
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Strong leadership and team collaboration skills
• Results-oriented mindset

Travel Requirements

• Frequent Travel to customer locations to build up and maintain relationship.
• Occasional Travel to manufacturing plants, and engineering centers.

Why Join Merit?

• Opportunity to manage strategic OEM relationships.
• Exposure to cutting-edge automotive electronics technologies.
• Global collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams.
• High visibility within the North American organization.
• Opportunity to influence both business growth and program success.

Company Description

Merit Automotive Electronics Systems is a Global supplier of complex mechatronics modules and switches to the automotive industry.

Merit has been created back in the 1940s in Germany to design and manufacture switches. In 1996, Merit has been acquired by Delphi who combined it with another acquisition from Eaton to create a product line named Mechatronics. In 2016 DELPHI sold this product line to Northeast Industries from China.

In the beginning of 2017, under the support of the new owner, Merit realigned and started over as an independent company, with headquarter in Barcelona, research center in Krakow and with facilities in Spain, Poland, Mexico and China, following the footprint of the globalization of automakers.

Company DescriptionMerit Automotive Electronics Systems is a Global supplier of complex mechatronics modules and switches to the automotive industry.

Merit has been created back in the 1940s in Germany to design and manufacture switches. In 1996, Merit has been acquired by Delphi who combined it with another acquisition from Eaton to create a product line named Mechatronics. In 2016 DELPHI sold this product line to Northeast Industries from China.

In the beginning of 2017, under the support of the new owner, Merit realigned and started over as an independent company, with headquarter in Barcelona, research center in Krakow and with facilities in Spain, Poland, Mexico and China, following the footprint of the globalization of automakers.