Technical Application Manager

About the role

We are seeking a Technical Application Manager in our Product Management Department in Elgin, IL. This is a customer-facing technical and commercial role responsible for supporting, positioning, and growing assigned HARTING product lines. Serving as the primary expert for complex technical and application-specific topics on assigned product lines, this role partners closely with sales teams, customers, and global subsidiaries to develop differentiated solutions that drive customer adoption.

Responsibilities

• Develop customer value propositions that clearly differentiate HARTING solutions from competitor offerings
• Partner with sales teams and customers to define requirements for product modifications that meet application needs and drive adoption
• Lead and manage product modifications in collaboration with Product Development, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, and Finance
• Support product development projects
• Serve as the primary technical resource for complex technical and application-specific inquiries from sales and customers
• Own the full product lifecycle—including product optimizations, line extensions, and discontinuations
• Drive product modifications
• Maintain cost trends and lead cost improvement initiatives
• Conduct market and competitor analysis for assigned product lines
• Enable sales effectiveness through value-based positioning, market and competitor analysis, and internal product training
• Achieve revenue and margin targets for assigned product lines
• Monitor manufacturing cost trends and initiate corrective actions as required
• Proactively identify and drive cost improvement opportunities
• Deliver internal product training to sales and commercial teams

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from a four-year college or university in an engineering discipline, preferably electrical or mechanical
• 4+ years of relevant professional experience
• Proficiency with Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office applications, including presentation software
• Strong analytical and conceptual problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally
• Strong intracultural awareness
• 15–25% travel required
• Valid passport required for periodic international travel

Qualifications

• Highly driven to develop customer value propositions that clearly differentiate HARTING solutions from competitor offerings
• Willing to partner with sales teams and customers to define requirements for product modifications that meet application needs and drive adoption
• Willing to lead and manage product modifications in collaboration with Product Development, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, and Finance
• Willing to support product development projects
• Willing to serve as the primary technical resource for complex technical and application-specific inquiries from sales and customers
• Willing to own the full product lifecycle, including product optimizations, line extensions, and discontinuations
• Willing to achieve revenue and margin targets for assigned product lines
• Willing to monitor manufacturing cost trends and initiate corrective actions as required
• Willing to proactively identify and drive cost improvement opportunities
• Willing to conduct market and competitor analysis for assigned product lines
• Willing to deliver internal product training to sales and commercial teams

Skills

• Strong analytical and conceptual problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally
• Strong intracultural awareness

Benefits

• Competitive base salary: $90,000 - $120,000 (commensurate with experience, subject to change dependent on physical location)
• 15% discretionary annual bonus
• 21 days PTO (Paid Time Off) to start – quickly earn more PTO as you stick with us (36 days max)
• Medical, dental, and vision Insurance – several Blue Cross Blue Shield plan options to choose from
• Company-sponsored life, AD&D, and short- and long-term disability – at no cost to employee
• Paid parental leave, tuition and fitness reimbursement, and a hybrid working policy
• 401(k) with a 4% dollar-for-dollar match – fully vested upon eligibility!