Product Sales Engineer

Rockford Ball Screw•Rockford, IL

1h•$90,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Rockford Ball Screw is seeking an experienced Product Sales Engineer with a strong understanding of machinery and a passion for problem-solving. This role involves direct customer interaction to develop tailored solutions for their applications. The ideal candidate possesses real-world engineering and machine experience, enabling them to comprehend customer designs, identify application requirements, troubleshoot issues, and recognize potential problems. The Product Sales Engineer will act as a technical liaison between customers, Sales, and Engineering, supporting sales opportunities in various industries including machine tools, industrial automation, robotics, material handling, packaging equipment, and other precision motion systems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field is preferred; equivalent practical experience in machinery, engineering, manufacturing, or technical applications will also be considered.
10+ years of practical experience in machine design, industrial automation, machine tools, motion control, robotics, special machinery, or related equipment.
Demonstrated experience working with machinery, machine design, industrial automation, machine tools, motion control, robotics, special machinery, or similar equipment.
Strong mechanical aptitude and a practical understanding of how machinery and mechanical systems work.
Hands-on experience with machine design, applications engineering, equipment commissioning, troubleshooting, or a similar technical discipline.
Experience working with ball screws, linear motion products, or equipment utilizing ball screws and linear motion components.
Ability to read, understand, and interpret mechanical drawings, blueprints, specifications, and related technical documentation.
Ability to recognize potential application or mechanical issues and recommend appropriate solutions.
Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to identify root causes and work through mechanical or application-related problems.
Experience communicating with engineers, machine builders, maintenance personnel, purchasing professionals, customers, and business leaders.
Ability to explain technical information clearly and directly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and customers.

Nice To Haves

15+ years of practical experience in machine design, industrial automation, machine tools, motion control, robotics, special machinery, or related equipment.
Experience in technical sales, applications engineering, product support, or a customer-facing engineering role.
Knowledge of product applications and the ability to determine how components should be applied based on a customer's machine design and operating requirements.
Experience visiting customer facilities, evaluating equipment, asking technical questions, and working directly with customers to develop solutions.
Knowledge of mechanical drafting standards and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
Experience providing technical training, mentoring, or developing the knowledge and capabilities of others.
Experience working with ERP systems and Microsoft Office or similar business and technical software.
Experience working closely with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and customers to develop and support technical solutions.

Responsibilities

Work directly with customers to understand their machine, application, performance requirements, operating conditions, and technical challenges.
Evaluate technical requirements including loads, speeds, duty cycles, accuracy, service life, mounting configurations, lubrication, operating environment, and overall machine configuration.
Review customer drawings, specifications, machine concepts, and other technical documentation to identify requirements, potential concerns, and opportunities for RBS products.
Provide advanced technical support to the Sales team by assisting with customer questions, product selection, application requirements, technical recommendations, and product knowledge.
Troubleshoot customer applications and field issues by evaluating equipment, operating conditions, and product performance and recommending potential solutions.
Participate in customer site visits and provide on-site technical support when necessary to assist with application reviews, troubleshooting, installation, or other customer needs.
Serve as a technical liaison between customers, Sales, Engineering, and other internal departments to ensure customer requirements are clearly communicated and appropriately addressed.
Work closely with Design Engineering throughout product development and custom application projects to communicate customer requirements and assist in developing appropriate solutions.
Maintain a strong understanding of RBS products, manufacturing capabilities, and application requirements to effectively communicate technical information to customers and internal teams.
Any/all other duties as assigned.