Manager, Sales Application Engineer

AAON, Inc.•Redmond, OR

34d

About The Position

Summary: BASX Solutions is a market leader in the manufacturing of high-efficiency thermal management equipment for data centers, clean rooms, and commercial & industrial HVAC systems. Committed to innovation and excellence, we are seeking a seasoned and driven Sales Application Engineering Manager to lead our team of Sales Application Engineers (SAEs) and Application Engineers (AEs). This role is critical in supporting pre-sales activities, driving technical customer engagement, and delivering tailored product and solution offerings. Acting as the technical bridge between Sales, Product Management, and Engineering, this team ensures all customer proposals are technically sound and aligned with broader business objectives. Additionally, the Sales Application Engineering Manager and their team play a key role in setting the stage for project margin performance—an essential factor in the company’s overall financial success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (preferred)
7+ years of experience in application engineering and technical sales
2+ years of experience managing or leading technical teams
Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
Strong and conflict-resolution skills
Proven technical acumen with a strong problem-solving mindset
Customer-first approach with an ability to align products & solutions with business strategy
Comfortable in high-pressure environments, with a focus on delivering results
Experience with MS Office and CAD software (AutoCAD, Inventor)
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, mechanical drawings, and technical documentation
Willingness and ability to learn in-house and third-party engineering/design/selection tools

Nice To Haves

Experience in HVAC, thermal management, data centers, or related fields is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Strategy Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Sales Application Engineers (SAEs) and Application Engineers (AEs)
Set clear goals, conduct performance evaluations, and drive continuous improvement
Strategically allocate team resources to align with sales priorities and customer demands
Define and track KPIs and performance metrics to measure team efficiency and effectiveness
Monitor and report regularly on team workload, inquiry volume, pipeline status, and win/loss trends
Cultivate a culture of technical excellence, customer focus, and accountability
Sales and Application Support Collaborate with Technical Sales Managers (TSMs) and manufacturer representatives to understand customer requirements and provide the right technical solutions and/or products to fulfill their needs
Oversee preparation of proposals, special requests, technical presentations, and product demonstrations
Ensure accurate and timely responses to technical and pricing inquiries
Assist sales representatives in evaluating the feasibility of meeting customer specifications
Customer Engagement Serve as a key technical liaison throughout the sales process
Provide advanced technical consultation to customers and support complex project opportunities
Build long-term relationships by understanding customer needs and providing tailored solutions
Product Knowledge and Collaboration Develop deep expertise in BASX’s product portfolio, capabilities, and applications
Gather and relay customer feedback to Product Management and Engineering
Identify and advocate for new product opportunities and enhancements based on market trends
Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Engineering, Product Management, and Marketing to ensure alignment of solutions and messaging
Support Marketing with technical input for collateral, literature, case studies, and other promotional materials
Project and Process Support Provide technical support to internal teams, reps, and customers throughout the pre-sales and order fulfillment process
Gather and interpret engineering data specific to each project
Support and process change order requests without impacting production schedules or ship dates
Contribute to post-mortem cost analysis and make recommendations to improve pricing, gross margin strategies, and project delivery