Application Engineering Specialist - Merlo Energy

The Kendall Group • Grand Rapids, MI

5d

About The Position

The Application Engineering Specialist is a key member of the Merlo Energy sales team and reports to the Inside Sales & Service Manager. The role collaborates with Customer Specialists (Outside Sales Representatives) to support customer interactions and the sales process. The specialist prepares quotes and orders, engages pre-identified leads to understand their requirements, recommends products and solutions, and follows up with customers to nurture relationships and support profitable business growth.

The position reviews applications, including product sizing and selection; interprets project documents and technical specifications; communicates project developments to customers, sales representatives, manufacturers, and the location manager; and provides ongoing project support. It may involve customer field visits and offsite activities. The role also requires participating in sales and product training, maintaining project data, using engineering platforms, and staying current on product offerings.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of industrial sales experience or 7 years of technical experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Critical thinking and attention to detail.
• Competence with MS Office and Excel.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical documents and bid specifications.
• Strong organization and detail orientation, with the ability to multitask and shift priorities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, continuously evolving, and at times ambiguous environment.
• Strong communication, negotiating, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to see, talk, and hear, and to sit for 8 hours a day; reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to travel for customer visits and offsite work activities; travel is approximately 20%, with minimal overnight travel.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

• Background in industrial and institutional sales and/or B2B sales.
• Experience with a prospecting system such as ZoomInfo or LinkedIn.

Responsibilities

• Actively engage with pre-identified leads.
• Review applications, including product sizing and selection.
• Clarify customers’ understanding of products and services by answering questions and providing relevant information.
• Communicate project development to customers, outside sales representatives, manufacturers, and the location manager.
• Recommend and/or analyze materials and equipment required for projects.
• Generate and process bids and orders tailored to customer needs.
• Maintain proactive communication with customers and stakeholders to provide project support and updates.
• Identify project needs and review bid documents, specifications, and drawings.
• Conduct customer field visits as needed to optimize the quoting and ordering process.
• Explain product features and applications.
• Communicate with customers and vendors through various channels.
• Participate in sales and product training sessions.
• Manage project data in the system as required.
• Stay current on evolving product offerings and use that knowledge in sales activities.
• Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers.
• Understand and use engineering platforms within the system.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Benefits

• Employee ownership.
• Opportunities to learn and grow with coaching and mentoring.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time