Sr. Technical Product Specialist

Company: Hirose Electric
Location: Downers Grove
Posted on: May 1, 2025

Job Description:

Description:ABOUT HIROSEThis is an exciting opportunity to join Hirose, an organization that for almost a hundred years has been pioneering thousands of new connectors and defining industry standards in consumer electronics, industrial automation, high speed backbone computer infrastructure, automotive, and medical applications. A compact company of smart people, Hirose uses the talents of every employee to bring innovation to put big technology in small packages.Position SummaryReporting into the Assistant VP of Product Management, this position is an individual contributor with primary responsibility for managing the product life cycle and influencing roadmaps for assigned product group(s) to accelerate product success today and tomorrowPOSITION RESPONSIBILITIESCore duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.Product Responsibility

• Responsible for assigned product groups, their product life cycle management, and helping grow their revenue through indirect and direct means, which includes customer visits
• Provide an annual and five-year revenue outlook for assigned product groups
• Responsible for achieving annual Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets
• Accelerate New Product Introduction (NPI) design-in through initiatives, programs, and/or visiting target customers with a salesperson
• Develop product strategy, which means knowledge and implementation of the 4P's, market analysis, competitive analysis, and then executing accordingly adjusting if/when needed
• Create and deliver customized product presentations both internally and externally that highlight Hirose's competitive advantage, value proposition(s), and why we win summaries
• Collaborate with adjacent Hirose Americas teams (Segment, Marketing, Sales, Distribution, Engineering), Japan (Product Marketing, Sales Promotion, Segment), and on occasion with global teams if needed (e.g. Hirose Europe)
• Comply with established Hirose policies, pricing guidelines and best practices9. Join technical standards committee(s) that best align to assigned product group Product Development
• Obtain voice-of-customer feedback from target customers on existing products and new product ideas. Travel to customer sites is required in most cases
• Collaborate with Hirose Americas Sales team, Segment team, and Hirose Japan teams to qualify both Americas and global-derived new product ideas
• Utilize the stage-gate process to qualify new ideas based on their product definition and revenue potential
• Help influence the roadmap of assigned product groupLeadership and Teamwork
• Continual demonstrates Hirose's philosophy of "connecting wisdom" and "always taking the lead, pursuing the cutting edge, achieving differentiation, and being the first to obtain consumer's approval"
• Build close relationships with Hirose Japan personnel and assist with periodic customer visits by Japanese engineers and other Hirose personnel
• Create a collaborative team environment within the HRS support groupsAdministration
• Complete tasks per ISO9001-2008 requirements, when applicable
• Prepare and submit sales activity reports on a timely basis including the rolling 12-month sales forecast for domestic and international, Manager's report, Regional Program Updates (RPU's), Distributor Quarterly Business Reports (QBR's), Private Show updates and information pertaining to the development of Hirose's CRM database
• Complete all required reports, presentations in a timely fashionRequirements: SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONSTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• BS degree in technical field required
• 10+ years total in a technical role or combination of technical roles including outside sales, product marketing, and/or product management experience
• Must possess technical knowledge or aptitude to be able to fully comprehend the customer's connector and connector solution requirements and take corresponding action to enable Hirose's success.
• Excellent analytical and problem- solving skills
• Excellent project management skills
• Organizational skills must be above average. Ability to manage multiple assignments while meeting deadlines and quality standards
• Possess excellent communication skills (oral and written) to work with both external and internal customers. Able to clearly and concisely communicate across different cultures
• Excellent presentation skills including creating PowerPoint presentations
• Ability to resolve issues and escalate in a timely fashion and to the customer's needs
• Computer literate and proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Self-motivated & positive attitude with great energy
• Must be able to travel up to 25% of the time (most likely will be 25%-50%). Travel includes the territory of Hirose Americas, sometimes to Hirose Japan HQ's once or twice per year if needed
• Must be authorized to work for the US without visa sponsorship now or in the futureSUPERVISIONNone PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
  Normal office environment.PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee will also need to travel to tradeshows and company events. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.WORK ENVIRONMENTThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.Hirose Electric Americas, Inc. may need to revise or change the essential and supplemental responsibilities of the position as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
  
  
  
  
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Keywords: Hirose Electric, Skokie , Sr. Technical Product Specialist, IT / Software / Systems , Downers Grove, Illinois