Sales Engineer/Business Development Manager

Abel Construction Company, Inc.•Nashville, TN

1h•Onsite

About The Position

Apex Integration is hiring a senior individual contributor to own and grow its Middle Tennessee territory. The role has full ownership of territory strategy, pipeline, and customer relationships, serving manufacturers within roughly a three-hour drive of Nashville across Middle Tennessee and surrounding markets in Kentucky, Alabama, and neighboring states. The position is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and involves frequent day travel to customer sites, with occasional overnights for multi-day site visits, trade shows, and partner meetings. The role develops manufacturing relationships and turns plant-floor challenges into engineered automation projects and repeat business. It sells Apex's integration services—including controls engineering, PLC/HMI programming, custom panels, industrial electrical, robotics, and lifecycle service programs—and adds product sales such as robots, welding equipment, aluminum framing, and guarding when appropriate. The Sales Engineer / Business Development Manager partners with engineering to scope opportunities, create proposals and estimates, and present solutions, then negotiates and closes work, hands projects to project management, and remains engaged through delivery. The role works with OEM and distributor sales teams on joint opportunities, identifies cross-sell opportunities with Abel Construction, represents Apex at industry events and customer visits, and shares market intelligence with leadership. Apex offers ownership of a growing territory, hands-on executive leadership and engineering support, strong OEM and distribution partnerships, and access to large industrial and capital projects through its relationship with Abel Construction. Compensation is described as competitive, with incentives and benefits.

Requirements

At least 5 years of B2B sales or business development experience in industrial automation, controls, robotics, industrial electrical, or manufacturing services.
Established relationships with manufacturing decision-makers in Middle Tennessee or the surrounding region.
A track record of winning and growing accounts through relationship-driven, consultative selling.
Working knowledge of plant operations, including production lines, maintenance priorities, downtime drivers, and capital project cycles.
Ability to walk a plant floor and hold credible conversations with engineers and maintenance teams.
Strong communication, proposal, and presentation skills.
Proficiency with CRM tools and Microsoft Office.
Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and willingness to travel regionally with occasional overnights.

Nice To Haves

Technical background in controls, automation, or robotics, such as experience as an engineer, technician, integrator, or OEM/distributor representative.
Familiarity with Rockwell, Siemens, FANUC, or similar platforms.
Experience selling both engineered services and capital equipment.
Existing network within automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
Bachelor's degree in engineering, engineering technology, or business, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Own sales across a roughly three-hour drive radius of Nashville, covering Middle Tennessee and surrounding markets in Kentucky, Alabama, and neighboring states.
Build and execute a territory plan prioritizing automotive OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, food and consumer goods, distribution, and other advanced manufacturers.
Manage the CRM pipeline from first contact through award, including accurate forecasting and timely follow-up.
Meet or exceed annual bookings and gross margin targets.
Develop relationships with plant managers, maintenance and controls leaders, manufacturing and process engineers, and procurement.
Grow existing accounts into repeat and program business.
Use warm introductions and referrals, including partner, OEM, and Abel Construction relationships, to open doors.
Lead with Apex integration services and attach relevant product sales where they strengthen the solution.
Visit plants with customers to identify downtime, throughput, safety, and labor challenges and turn them into scoped opportunities.
Partner with Apex engineering to define scope, develop proposals and estimates, and present solutions.
Negotiate terms, close sales, hand projects off to project management, and stay engaged through delivery.
Work with OEM partner and distributor sales teams to pursue joint opportunities and convert partner-sourced leads.
Identify cross-sell opportunities with Abel Construction on new plants, expansions, and retooling projects.
Represent Apex at trade shows, industry events, and customer site visits.
Share market intelligence about competitors, customer capital plans, and emerging projects with leadership.