Sales Engineer
$80-130K
Permanent
Lake Zurich, Illinois
Position Overview:
We are seeking a motivated and experienced Sales Engineer to manage and grow our strategic accounts. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background, preferably in mechanical engineering, with a focus on rolling and sliding elements. This role is pivotal in creating and executing sales strategies, building lasting relationships with key customers, and driving revenue growth. The candidate should be adept at understanding complex customer needs and translating them into actionable sales opportunities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Sales Strategy & Execution: Develop and implement comprehensive sales strategies aimed at growing business within strategic accounts. This includes identifying new sales opportunities, setting sales goals, and executing plans to achieve those goals.
- Account Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for strategic accounts, ensuring that customer needs are met and relationships are strengthened. Maintain ongoing communication with both current and potential customers to ensure satisfaction and identify new opportunities for collaboration.
- Forecasting & Budgeting: Accurately forecast customer requirements and contribute to the budgeting process. Regularly review and update forecasts to reflect changes in customer demand and market conditions.
- Coordination of Activities: Coordinate and oversee all activities related to strategic accounts, ensuring that all customer interactions, from initial contact to final delivery, are handled efficiently and effectively.
- Document Review & Management: Review and manage sales-related documents such as contracts, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and frame agreements. Ensure that all documentation is accurate, up-to-date, and in compliance with company policies and customer expectations.
- Quotation Management: Prepare, organize, and submit quotations to customers. Follow up on submitted quotations to ensure timely responses and to secure new business.
- Technical Understanding: Utilize your technical expertise to understand and interpret customer documents, including Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) documentation, customer drawings, and engineering reports. Communicate technical requirements clearly to both customers and internal teams.
- Travel: Willingness to travel both nationally and internationally to meet with clients, attend training sessions, participate in trade shows, and represent the company at customer events. This role requires a high level of flexibility and availability to meet customer needs.
- Training & Development: Stay current with industry trends, technologies, and best practices by attending relevant training sessions, seminars, and trade shows. Share knowledge gained with the team to drive continuous improvement.
- Relationship Building: Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with customers, understanding their business needs and providing tailored solutions. Act as a trusted advisor to customers, helping them achieve their goals through our products and services.
Your Profile:
- Education: A completed degree in Mechanical Engineering or a comparable field is required.
- Experience: A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in sales, with a strong preference for experience in rolling and sliding elements or related industries. Experience with automotive customers or chassis-specific OEMs is highly desirable.
- Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of technical documents such as PPAPs, customer drawings, and engineering reports. Proficient in using common software tools, including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Independence & Responsibility: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, taking full responsibility for managing and growing strategic accounts. A hands-on mentality and proactive approach to problem-solving are essential.
- Travel: Willingness to travel for client appointments, trade shows, and company events, as well as to HQ or other employer locations as needed.
- Personal Qualities: Responsible, careful, and independent working style, with a strong focus on delivering results. Must have a hands-on mentality and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Work Environment:
- Team Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, production, and marketing, to ensure that customer needs are met and that all sales strategies align with company goals.
- Continuous Learning: Opportunities for professional development and growth through training, seminars, and industry events.
- Dynamic Industry: Engage with the latest trends and technologies in the automotive and mechanical engineering fields, contributing to cutting-edge projects and solutions.
