Sales Engineer

PAUL'S Machine and Welding•Villa Grove, IL

16d

About The Position

Develop new business and grow existing customer relationships within PAUL'S contract manufacturing and custom automation division. This role combines technical manufacturing knowledge, proactive business development, account management, estimating support, and sales administration. The Sales Engineer translates customer needs into solutions involving machining, fabrication, welding, contract manufacturing, machine building, and custom automation, and owns opportunities from prospecting through project completion and post-sale follow-up. The position involves building relationships with manufacturers, OEMs, and industrial customers; understanding their needs and identifying potential solutions; interpreting technical documentation; and coordinating customer requirements with internal teams. The Sales Engineer also maintains accurate CRM/ERP records, manages sales forecasts and pipeline reporting, and follows up after project completion to support customer satisfaction and uncover further opportunities. Regular travel to customer locations and job sites is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent manufacturing/industrial experience.
At least 3 years of experience in technical or industrial sales, manufacturing, machining, fabrication, welding, automation, manufacturing engineering, estimating, project management, or a related industrial field.
Demonstrated understanding of manufacturing processes, industrial equipment, and/or machine components.
Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, prints, dimensions, RFQs, and technical specifications.
Strong organization and follow-through, with the ability to independently manage multiple prospects, RFQs, quotations, and customer needs.
Proficiency with standard business technology and ability to consistently maintain CRM/ERP activity and documentation.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.
Valid driver’s license and ability to regularly travel to customer locations and job sites.

Responsibilities

Prospect, develop, and grow new and existing customers through outreach, networking, referrals, customer visits, facility walk-throughs, and targeted account development.
Build relationships with manufacturers, OEMs, and industrial customers; understand their business needs, pain points, timelines, and expectations.
Identify opportunities involving machining, fabrication, welding, contract manufacturing, machine building, and custom automation, including solutions customers may not have fully identified.
Review and interpret mechanical drawings, prints, dimensions, RFQs, specifications, and other technical documentation.
Provide estimating and operations teams with complete, detailed information needed to develop quotes.
Facilitate questions and clarify project scope between customers and internal teams.
Develop and execute an individual sales plan, maintain a targeted prospect list and healthy pipeline, and follow up on opportunities, RFQs, and quotations through resolution.
Own opportunities from prospecting through quote, award, project execution, billing, and post-sale follow-up, maintaining customer communication throughout the lifecycle.
Coordinate customer requirements, technical questions, scope, schedules, and changes with estimating, engineering, machining, fabrication, automation, and operations teams.
Monitor customer commitments and project requirements, communicate issues proactively, and help resolve customer questions or concerns.
Follow up after project completion to assess customer satisfaction and identify additional opportunities; when appropriate, obtain consent for testimonials or project photography for marketing.
Maintain accurate and current customer, contact, opportunity, quotation, and sales activity information in the company CRM/ERP.
Track pipeline activity and prepare sales forecasts, pipeline updates, and performance reports.
Manage administrative responsibilities efficiently to maximize time for prospecting, customer development, and revenue-generating activity.
Travel regularly to customer locations and job sites.