Senior Manager, Applications Engineering

Position Overview

The Senior Manager of Applications Engineering will lead the technical interface with customers, manage internal teams, and drive value through applications engineering, product or process development, and continuous improvement activities.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead the team that acts as the primary technical contact with existing and potential customers in designing, prototyping, and transitioning products into manufacturing.
• Manage the technical interface between customers and cross-functional MP Materials teams that design and manufacture rare earth magnets.
• As the hands-on leader of a team of engineers and technicians, use excellent communication and organizational skills to direct their activities.
• Develop tools and methods to succinctly summarize and communicate project status.
• Control budget and timing of internal and customer-facing applications development projects.
• Organize and adjust both short and long duration team goals based on current business conditions and evolving customer and market needs.
• Identify value opportunities for MP Materials products, to be realized through applications engineering, product or process development, continuous improvement activities, or long-term strategic initiatives.
• Work closely with EHS to ensure that all work is done to ensure world class health and safety, and full compliance with relevant environmental regulations.

Basic Qualifications

• BS or higher in Materials, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or other relevant disciplines.
• Working knowledge of rare earth magnets and/or permanent magnet motors, actuators, and sensors including end use applications and key performance metrics.
• Experience working directly with external customers to understand technical needs and translate them into operational actions.
• At least 5 years of experience managing a technical team.
• Experience partnering with commercial teams to generate product specifications and quotations.
• Understanding of the cost, yield and quality of manufactured product(s).
• Experience with material manufacturing, particularly NdFeB magnet manufacturing.
• Ability to effectively communicate with a spectrum of different roles, from customers to senior leaders to manufacturing operators.
• Ability to lead teams solving customer problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare well-written documents for reporting to customers and senior leadership.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent projects.

Desired Qualities

• In-depth knowledge of design of electric devices and/or magnets for electric devices.
• Knowledge of rare earth permanent magnet grades and magnetic properties of those grades.
• Understanding the manufacturing processes for rare earth materials and permanent magnets.
• Advanced degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Materials Science Engineering.
• Expert level user of Microsoft Office suite.