Automotive Research Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Consultant - North America

Are you ready to build your consulting career at the forefront of automotive innovation?

SBD Automotive is a global automotive research and consulting company, supporting manufacturers, suppliers, and technology companies with strategy, insight, and execution across connected, electric, autonomous, and software-defined vehicles.

As a Senior Consultant (Automotive Cybersecurity), you will play a key role in delivering high-quality consulting engagements with automaker and supplier product cybersecurity and risk management organizations, developing trusted client relationships, and contributing to the growth of SBD's expertise and market presence.

This is a highly visible role within the consulting team, combining analytical problem solving, client engagement, and growing commercial awareness. You will work closely with Managers, Senior Managers, and Directors to help clients navigate complex industry challenges whilst continuing to develop your consulting and domain expertise.

A Day in the Life

The role will balance project delivery, client interaction, knowledge development, and commercial contribution.  

You might start the day analysing market developments, preparing client deliverables, or supporting a project team ahead of an important client regulatory or vehicle development milestone. Later, you could join a client workshop, present a section of project findings, or participate in discussions around future client product cybersecurity needs and opportunities.

No two days are identical, but the focus remains the same: delivering high-quality deliverables, building credibility with clients, and continuously developing your expertise and impact. This role will involve travel to clients.

The key Responsibilities of the role include:

Client Delivery

• Own and/or deliver high-quality consulting outputs and project workstreams on complex technical subjects, including automotive product cybersecurity technologies and principles.
• Support project leads in delivering successful client outcomes, in particular translating security risk to business impact, and delivering strong executive friendly synthesis and narrative.
• Apply structured problem solving and analytical thinking to client challenges, including industry cybersecurity standards, regulations, threat and risk assessment, and technology selection to ensure delivery quality and continuous improvement.

Client Relationships and Value Creation

• Build trusted relationships with clients and project stakeholders, including product cybersecurity management at automakers and suppliers.
• Develop an understanding of client priorities, challenges, and business objectives and identify opportunities to add value beyond immediate project requirements.

Commercial Contribution

• Develop an understanding of client accounts, market developments, and industry trends and identify future opportunities and engagements.
• Support business development and networking activities including proposals, research, opportunity qualification, and relevant cybersecurity conferences.

Domain Expertise and Knowledge Development

• Contribute to SBD's Centers of Excellence and knowledge-sharing initiatives, including (but not limited to) product cybersecurity and software-defined vehicle initiatives.
  
• Stay informed on industry developments and emerging market trends and develop reusable insight, methodologies, and best practices.

Professional Contribution

• Champion SBD's brand, values, professional standards and contribute to internal initiatives that improve the business.
• Support colleagues through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and constructive feedback.
• Demonstrate strong operational discipline including project planning, timesheet management, and documentation standards.
• Leverage AI and other productivity tools appropriately to improve quality, efficiency, and client value.

About You

You are a motivated consultant who combines strong analytical capability with a genuine interest in the automotive and mobility sectors. You enjoy solving complex problems, working directly with clients, and continuously expanding your expertise.

• Relevant technical qualifications
• 4+ years experience in automotive or related field, with cybersecurity relevance
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and demonstrated high quality written deliverables
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills plus the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Depth of technical expertise and a willingness and agility to expand into adjacent technology domains
• Hands-on embedded electronics experience is desirable, but not essential.

About Us

We are a global automotive research and consulting organization with 29 years of trusted expertise and a proven track record of success.   We support our customers and deliver confidence through clarity, insight and vision to support better and informed decisions in the fast-changing mobility market.  

• Be part of our entrepreneurial environment and help to shape the future relationship between people and cars. 
• Our teams operate in four business units across six locations: China, Germany, India, Japan, UK, and USA.
• Our corporate goals of Efficiency, Accountability, Agility and Growth ensure we stay at the top of our game and create ongoing opportunities for personal development
• Our values of Compassion, Collaboration, Courage, Curiosity and Commitment are part of every decision we make - we care about our people, our clients and our ability to keep learning. 
• Benefits include 401K, Health Care, Performance based bonus and opportunities for Equity Sharing.
• Work from home or the office, with no set office days, though occasional attendance may be expected.

Sorry, no agencies please.