Business Development Manager (Bilingual Chinese-Mandarin)

We keep the world’s compute cool. Sunon builds high-efficiency fans, integrated cooling modules, heat sinks, and full system / rack-level solutions for cloud, server, industrial, and automotive customers. Our R&D and manufacturing are in Asia, where programs move from first concept to qualified, high-volume production. We support customers through sales offices worldwide to stay close to their roadmaps and timelines.

This posting is for our U.S. sales office, Sunon Inc. We’re a customer-facing team that turns real needs into workable thermal solutions, then steers them through design reviews, validation, and into production—working day-to-day with engineering and sourcing on the customer side and with our Asia teams on the build side. If you want clear goals, direct ownership of key accounts, and the satisfaction of seeing your work progress from pilot runs to full production, you’ll fit right in. We build what we sell, we stand behind it, and we’re moving the portfolio forward—air today, liquid / hybrid next.

• Job Description

Based in La Verne, you’ll win thermal design-ins with OEMs and Tier-1s. You’ll build programs across EV battery, power electronics, ADAS / compute, lighting, and charging. Meet customers in plants and labs, turn needs into crisp proposals, and guide projects to SOP. Sell our solutions, fans, integrated modules, and system-level cooling while working closely with our R&D and manufacturing teams in Asia. Own the relationship, the forecast, and the follow-through. If you like hands-on selling and clear ownership, you’ll like this role. Automotive sales experience in EV / ADAS / power electronics is strongly preferred; Mandarin / English bilingual is required.

• Responsibilities
• Prospect and qualify new opportunities with OEMs, Tier-1s, and EV ecosystem partners.
• Meet customers on-site (plants, labs, HQs) to present, gather requirements, and align next steps.
• Build long-term relationships via calls, email, referrals, networking, and key industry events.
• Turn requirements into proposals, quotes, and sample / evaluation plans; manage RFIs / RFQs.
• Drive design-ins from concept to launch; support DV / PV, validation / qualification, and PPAP as required.
• Coordinate daily with Operations / Manufacturing in Asia on builds, schedules, and escalations.
• Track POs, shipments, and issues; resolve problems quickly with internal teams.
• Keep CRM current; deliver pipeline, forecast, and account status reports on schedule.
• Follow up after delivery to confirm performance and customer satisfaction; close action items.
• Provide first-line technical / commercial support; route deeper topics to engineering / FAE when needed.
• Monitor customer roadmaps, competitors, and market trends; adjust targeting and messaging.
• Feed product and pricing input to shape the roadmap and reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for customers.
• Stay current on EV thermal topics : battery packs, inverters, e-axles, ADAS / compute, and charging.
• Build and execute a Detroit / Great Lakes territory plan; develop referral networks and channel partners.
• Experience :
• 5+ years in automotive B2B sales / BD with OEMs and Tier-1s (EV / thermal, power electronics, or ADAS / compute).
• Detroit metro–based with regular customer visits (plants, labs, HQs) and ~25–40% travel.
• Current working relationships with engineering, program management, and sourcing at OEMs / Tier-1s.
• Hands-on with the auto development cycle : RFQ / RFI, sourcing gates, DV / PV, PPAP / APQP, change control, and SOP.
• Strong pipeline discipline : CRM hygiene, forecasting, follow-through, and on-time reporting.
• Comfortable working across time zones with Asia (early / late calls as needed).
• Bachelor’s in ME / EE / IE or Business with strong technical aptitude (or equivalent experience).
• Mandarin / English bilingual is required
• Preferred Experience :
• Design-in wins for fans, heat sinks, cooling modules, or system / rack thermal solutions—or for power electronics cooling (inverters, OBC, e-axle, battery pack).
• Familiar with IATF 16949 / ISO 9001, DFMEA / PFMEA, control plans, and customer supplier portals.
• Experience taking programs from first meeting to SOP, with clear revenue and margin outcomes.
• Pricing / contracting chops : quotes, tooling / NRE, LTAs, and cost-down planning.
• Benefits :
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Medical Health Insurance : (Dental / Medical / Vision)
• Paid time off
• Prescription drug insurance
• Referral program
• Pay :
• From $80,000 to $120,000 based on experience
• Schedule :
• 8-hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Supplemental Pay :
• Bonus opportunities
• Commission pays
• Job Type :
• Full-time
• Willingness to travel :
• 25% to 40% (Preferred)
• Work Location :
• On - Site (must be based in La Verne, CA area)

Job Type : Full-time

Pay : $80,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year

Benefits :
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Prescription drug insurance
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Education :

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience :

• automotive B2B sales / BD with OEMs : 5 years (Required)

Language :

• Mandarin (Required)

Willingness to travel :

• 25% (Required)

Work Location : In person