Junior Sales Engineer – Proposals and Business Development

45 Engineering S.r.l.; Vicenza; On-site; EUR 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

45 Engineering S.r.l. is seeking a Junior Sales Engineer to translate engineering expertise into compelling proposals and new business. The role starts with proposal management alongside the CEO, then grows toward running tenders and negotiations independently.

We hire a technical profile, not a salesperson, and you will work at our Montecchio Maggiore headquarters (Vicenza) with travel to clients and trade fairs. Fluency in English and Italian is required.

Qualifications

• Recent technical diploma or engineering degree.
• Fluent written and spoken English; Italian required for day-to-day work.
• Experience in proposal management is a plus, not a requirement.
• Willingness to travel for client visits and trade fairs.

Responsibilities

• Manage opportunities from website, trade fairs and referrals to closing.
• Draft technical proposals using company templates with scope, hours and lead times.
• Maintain client relationships during negotiations and update the commercial pipeline.
• Map and approach new clients (civil engineering firms, utilities, manufacturers).
• Handle tenders and bid management as the role grows, including documentation and deadlines.

Skills

Proposal management

Technical writing

English proficiency

Italian language

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical/Energy or related engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

CAD software (3D)

Job description

Junior Sales Engineer – Proposals and Business Development

THE POSITION

You will join the commercial side of 45 Engineering, where engineering turns into proposals, negotiations and new clients. We are looking for a recent technical graduate who wants to build a career in technical sales: you will start with proposal management alongside the CEO and grow, over time, into running tenders and negotiations independently.

What we sell is engineering, and selling it well means understanding it. That is why we are hiring a technical profile, not a salesperson.

Contract: to be defined according to the profile

Workplace: Operational headquarters in Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza, Italy), with travel to clients and trade fairs.

WORK ACTIVITY

• Opportunity Management: You will log and qualify incoming requests (website, trade fairs, referrals) in our proposal management system and follow their status through to closing.
• Technical Proposals: You will draft proposals on the company template, collecting scope, hours and lead times from the technical team.
• Follow-up and Relationship: You will keep the relationship with the client alive during the negotiation and keep the commercial pipeline up to date.
• Active Prospecting: You will map and approach new clients (civil engineering firms, water utilities, pump and machine manufacturers, hydropower operators in Italy and abroad) and attend industry trade fairs.
• Tenders and Bid Management: As the role grows, you will manage public and private engineering tenders (documentation, requirements, partners, deadlines), becoming our in-house reference for complex proposals.

HARD SKILLS

• Background: Recent technical high-school diploma (mechanics, mechatronics, energy) or Bachelor's/Master's degree in Mechanical, Energy or a related engineering field.
• Toolbox: Good command of Office tools; familiarity with 3D CAD or simulation software is a plus, not a requirement.
• Technical Skills: Ability to read a technical specification and turn it into a clear proposal, with scope, exclusions and terms. Fluent written and spoken English: about half of our clients are outside Italy. Italian is required for day-to-day work.
• Mindset: Sending a quote is not enough for you: you want to understand the client’s need, build the right proposal and close.

SOFT SKILLS

• Attitude: Accuracy and method (we work with procedures, document coding and an ISO 9001 quality system), curiosity about the market and a desire to be in front of the client.
• Cutting-edge Technology: You will work on ever-changing machines and projects with a high level of innovation: from a 5 MW Pelton turbine to a fuel-cell test bench.
• Know-how Culture: We offer a highly skilled environment with direct mentoring by the CEO and a clear growth path, from proposal support to bid manager.
• Flexibility and Drive: We value autonomy and initiative: this role does not yet exist in the company, and you will help define it.

This position is open to candidates of any gender (Italian Law 903/77).

Travel in Italy and abroad for client visits and trade fairs is expected.