Sales Application Engineer - Controls

OTTO Engineering • Carpentersville, IL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

At OTTO, we don’t just manufacture products - we engineer mission-critical solutions with precision and pride. Our Controls Division designs and manufactures high quality, comprehensive solutions that reliably perform for some of the most demanding markets in the world, serving the medical, off-highway, and military / aerospace customers with switches, grips, and joysticks. As a core value, we focus on delivering for our customers through innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness … as a result, our growth continues! Employees are our greatest asset, which is why we share our company’s profits to celebrate our collective success. As a privately-owned company, we are proud to invest significantly in our community and in our own growth, focusing on long-term business success. We are proudly American! As our Sales Application Engineer, you will support the growth and execution of sales initiatives across North America by combining technical expertise with commercial acumen. This role partners closely with Sales, Engineering, and outside manufacture’s representatives to drive new business opportunities, support design-in activities, and ensure successful project execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 2+ years of experience in a technical or manufacturing sales environment.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to quickly learn and apply product and application knowledge.
• Project management experience with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proven ability to follow through and execute against defined objectives.
• Willingness to travel and support non-standard work schedules as required.
• Detailed oriented.
• Proven follow-up skills.

Nice To Haves

• Mechanical or Electrical Engineering degree preferred.
• Experience working with electro-mechanical products (switches, joysticks, or similar) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support and drive sales project development across North America, from opportunity identification through capture.
• Partner with Regional Sales Managers (RSM), Major Account Managers, independent manufacturer representatives, and distributors to achieve project and revenue objectives.
• Build and strengthen customer relationships through direct engagement, including customer visits, rep interactions, and trade show support.
• Coordinate and manage multiple projects simultaneously, aligning internal and external resources to meet timelines and objectives.
• Track and support key opportunities, assisting RSMs in advancing and closing business.
• Collaborate with the customer’s engineering teams to support design-in activities and translate technical requirements into internal product solutions.
• Support RSM’s to develop and deliver proposals, including responses to RFQs/RFPs and customized solutions aligned with customer needs.
• Identify and address technical challenges throughout the sales cycle to ensure customer satisfaction and successful project execution.
• Work cross-functionally with Engineering to support product development and navigate OTTO’s Phase Gate process.
• Provide market intelligence, including competitive insights, new product opportunities, and long-term growth trends.
• Travel as required to support customers, representatives, distributors, and industry trade shows.
• Support additional sales and business development activities as needed.
• Assists with other related duties as required or assigned.

Benefits

• Profit Sharing Bonus - OTTO believes that it’s fair to share the profits that the employees help to make; profit sharing is distributed to employees twice a year. OTTO’s profit sharing plan is paid at the discretion of the company and is not a guaranteed bonus or any part of a compensation plan.
• Vacation: 80 hours - vacation time is earned on the anniversary date.
• Medical Insurance- HMO Plan
• Medical Insurance- Standard PPO Plan
• Medical Insurance- Enhanced PPO Plan
• Medical Insurance- High Deducible PPO Plan
• FSA
• LFSA
• HSA
• Dental Insurance- Base Plan
• Dental Insurance- Buy-Up Plan
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with a company match
• Life/AD&D
• Voluntary Life/AD&D
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• 10 paid holidays
• Company picnic
• Holiday party
• Numerous OTTO celebrations throughout the year!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees