Senior Technical Sales Engineer, Automotive Industry

Senior Technical Sales Engineer, Automotive Industry (M/F) - IAV France

IAV France is accelerating its growth within the French automotive ecosystem and is looking for a Senior Technical Sales Engineer to actively develop new business with vehicle manufacturers, Tier-1 suppliers, technology partners, and mobility players. Combining strong engineering credibility with a proactive sales mindset, you will identify opportunities, open new accounts, build trusted customer relationships, and convert technical needs into sustainable business. You will be a key contributor to IAV France's commercial growth and market positioning.

Drive the development of IAV's automotive business through active market engagement and technically credible sales:

• Proactively identify, qualify, and pursue new business opportunities with automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, technology companies, and mobility players.
• Build and manage a robust sales pipeline through systematic prospecting, customer visits, networking, and disciplined follow-up.
• Understand customer challenges and translate them into compelling engineering, development, testing, and consulting solutions.
• Lead the sales process from initial contact and needs analysis through proposal preparation, negotiation, closing, and account development.
• Position IAV's expertise across powertrain, electrified systems, battery, SDV, ADAS/AD, vehicle integration, simulation, testing, and digital engineering.
• Coordinate closely with technical experts, project teams, and management to develop competitive, technically sound, and commercially viable offers.
• Strengthen IAV's visibility and influence through industry events, professional associations, clusters, and strategic partnerships.
• Monitor market trends, customer investment priorities, competitors, and emerging technologies to shape the automotive sales roadmap.
• Degree in automotive, mechanical, electrical, electronics, mechatronics, software, or a comparable engineering discipline.
• Typically 8-15 years of experience in automotive engineering, technical sales, business development, key account management, or a combination of these areas.
• Proven success in developing business with automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, or engineering and technology organizations.
• Strong understanding of automotive product-development cycles, sourcing processes, RFQs, technical proposals, and commercial negotiations.
• An established network within the French automotive ecosystem is a strong advantage.
• Fluent French and professional English are required; German is an advantage.

Technical Skills

• Solid knowledge of vehicle systems and at least one major technical domain, such as powertrain and hybrid systems, electrification and batteries, E/E architecture, SDV, ADAS/AD, vehicle integration, simulation, calibration, validation, or testing.
• Ability to understand complex customer requirements, challenge technical assumptions, and engage credibly with engineering, purchasing, and senior management stakeholders.
• Good understanding of automotive development standards, processes, and quality expectations; knowledge of functional safety, cybersecurity, ASPICE, or relevant homologation requirements is an advantage.
• Ability to develop value propositions, scopes of work, effort estimates, and persuasive technical-commercial offers in cooperation with specialist teams.

Sales & Business Development Skills

• Strong hunter mentality with the energy and persistence to create opportunities rather than wait for incoming requests.
• Demonstrated ability to open doors, engage decision-makers, and develop new accounts from first contact to signed business.
• Structured pipeline management, opportunity qualification, forecasting, and regular reporting using CRM tools.
• Strong consultative-selling, presentation, negotiation, and closing skills.
• Ability to build long-term customer relationships while maintaining clear commercial objectives and momentum.

Soft Skills

• Dynamic, proactive, and strongly results-oriented, with a clear drive to win new business.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, high autonomy, and the ability to act quickly in a developing market.
• Confident communicator who creates credibility with both technical specialists and executive stakeholders.
• Persistent and resilient, with disciplined follow-through and a strong sense of ownership.
• Collaborative team player able to mobilize internal experts around customer opportunities.

What We Offer

International & Dynamic Environment :

Work on cutting-edge projects related to connected and electrified vehicles, software-defined vehicles, and future mobility.

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