Technical Sales Trainee (Grand Rapids)

BALLUFF INC•Grand Rapids, MI

About The Position

Balluff is seeking recent graduates in engineering, business, or technical fields for its Sales Trainee Engagement Program (STEP), a paid, 12-month rotational training program beginning the first week of January 2027. The program prepares trainees to become Technical Sales Engineers within a defined sales territory. Trainees gain hands-on experience across core departments, develop product knowledge, and learn to deliver customer-focused solutions in industrial automation. Upon successful completion, the trainee will transition to a Sales Engineer role supporting the Grand Rapids territory, developing customer relationships and growing the business. During the program, trainees rotate through Technical Customer Support, Sales Support, Operations, and other functions; solve real customer applications; participate in structured product and sales training; gain experience with internal systems and customer communication; travel with and shadow experienced Sales Engineers; and begin building customer relationships through virtual sales activities. The position requires relocation to the Florence, Kentucky/Cincinnati, Ohio area for 12 months of training, followed by relocation to the assigned Grand Rapids, Michigan territory.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a technical discipline.
Up to 1–2 years of post-education experience.
Technical aptitude and willingness to learn Balluff products and systems.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and virtual meeting platforms.
Ability and willingness to relocate to the Florence, KY/Cincinnati, OH area for 12 months of training and then to the assigned Grand Rapids, MI territory.
Strong problem-solving interest and desire to improve efficiency.
Curiosity about how things work.
Good time-management skills and a goal-oriented approach.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Confident, clear communication.
Eagerness to keep learning.

Responsibilities

Rotate through Technical Customer Support, Sales Support, Operations, and other core functions.
Solve real customer applications and build solutions to learn how Balluff products work.
Participate in structured product and sales training programs.
Gain experience with internal systems, customer communication, and demo tools.
Travel with and shadow experienced Sales Engineers.
Begin building customer relationships through virtual sales activities.
After successful program completion, support the Grand Rapids territory as a Sales Engineer, developing customer relationships and growing the business.