Sebastian Dienst

Technical Project Lead / Application Engineering – Electric Motors & Mechatronics

Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan

About

Automotive Engineering Professional in Japan since 2012

Experience

  • Mahle Electric Drives Japan (7 yrs 7 mos)
    • Technical Project Lead & Application Engineering Manager
      Oct 2025 - Present · 9 mos

      - Serve as Technical Project Lead for MAHLE's global portfolio of electric motors, pumps, actuators, and mechatronic products in the Japanese market - Lead project acquisition activities in close collaboration with sales teams, providing technical expertise and application engineering support throughout the customer engagement process - Manage and coordinate RFI/RFQ activities for Japanese OEMs, including requirement analysis, technical feasibility assessments, customer communication, and quotation support - Drive promotion and market introduction of globally developed MAHLE products in Japan, identifying application opportunities and supporting strategic growth initiatives - Act as the primary technical interface between Japanese customers and international development teams, ensuring alignment of customer requirements and project objectives - Support nominated projects through project management and application engineering activities, coordinating technical discussions, project milestones, risks, and deliverables - Plan, monitor, and manage project budgets, schedules, resources, and timing to ensure successful project execution - Deliver technical presentations, conduct requirement reviews, and support customer workshops throughout the product acquisition and development process

    • Head of Development for Electrical Auxiliaries Japan
      Aug 2021 - Sep 2025 · 4 yrs 2 mos

      - Served in a hybrid managerial role, combining development leadership for local projects with technical sales support for MAHLE’s global electric motor and auxiliary product portfolio - Directed the development of electric motors and auxiliaries in Japan, along with the application of systems such as electric pumps and actuators - Led cross-functional teams through full product development cycles, including planning, resource allocation, budget management, and milestone tracking - Fostered strong coordination across multilingual and multicultural teams in global R&D and production facilities to ensure seamless collaboration and successful product launches - Drove project acquisition efforts by providing expert application engineering support for electric auxiliaries, ensuring technical alignment with OEM requirements - Delivered technical presentations to global automotive customers, participated in requirement reviews, and supported sales teams with precise technical input during the quotation phase - Collaborated with product segment teams to define and align product strategies specific to the Japanese market

    • Head of Development for Engine Cooling Fan Motors
      Oct 2019 - Jul 2021 · 1 yr 10 mos

      - Served as Product Segment Engineering Manager for electric motors used in engine and powertrain cooling modules at MAHLE R&D Japan, supporting domestic and international customers as a Tier 2 supplier within the MAHLE Group - Led end-to-end product development processes, ensuring project execution aligned with customer requirements, internal standards, and cross-functional timelines - Defined product strategies and identified necessary new technologies to support future business and application needs - Planned engineering capacity for upcoming projects and ensured optimal resource allocation - Oversaw development budgets and maintained adherence to cost and timing targets across multiple concurrent programs - Managed and mentored the local engineering team, fostering collaboration and technical excellence in a multicultural R&D environment

  • Business Development / Country Representative at Horizen Official
    Mar 2018 - Oct 2018 · 8 mos

    Horizen is a blockchain platform with a leading-edge privacy technology that provides everyone with privacy and complete control of their digital footprint. We have a sustainable funding model with protocol-level solutions. • Country Representative for Horizen (Blockchain platform) in Japan • Community growth, public relations, Social Media correspondence, local marketing • Local business development support • Integration of platform services

  • Product Development Engineer at Shape Corp.
    Oct 2016 - Jan 2018 · 1 yr 4 mos

    - Specialized in the application engineering of structural components such as bumper beams, crash cans, door impact beams, and roof bows, utilizing high-strength steel roll-forming, aluminum extrusion, and plastic injection molding technologies - Served as the primary technical interface ("window person") between Japanese OEMs and global development teams in the U.S. and China, facilitating effective communication and alignment of customer requirements - Coordinated cross-functional collaboration within a global production and engineering network spanning Japan, the U.S., and China - Ensured successful adaptation and integration of global product designs to meet local OEM requirements, validation standards, and vehicle specifications

  • Mechanical Design Engineer (automotive interior parts) at Alps Electric
    Jun 2012 - Sep 2016 · 4 yrs 4 mos

    - Designed and developed automotive shift-by-wire systems, including both functional components (e.g., sliders, knobs) and interior appearance parts (e.g., panels, center consoles) using thermoplastic polymers - Created detailed 3D CAD models using CATIA V5, conducted material evaluations, and prepared product, part, and packaging drawings and specifications - Performed design feasibility analyses, provided technical feedback to customers, and participated in specification negotiations - Managed mold tooling implementation with internal tooling divisions and sub-suppliers, ensuring design intent and manufacturability - Coordinated mass production preparation in collaboration with production engineering, quality, and supply chain teams

  • Internship at Alps Electric
    Apr 2009 - Sep 2009 · 6 mos

    Internship at the automotive division of Alps Electric Co. Ltd. in Furukawa, Japan. Division: Human-Machine-Interface (mechanical group) Duration: 5 1/2 months - Involved in the processes of part design, development and approval of HMI products. - part-design in Catia V5 - quality control (strength and durability tests, color measurements, haptic measurements)