Aftermarket Project Sales Engineer

HeatTek; Northern (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus Paid Holidays

Immediate Vesting for Company Matched

Annual Discretionary Profit-Sharing

Summer Hours

Flexible Scheduling

Personalized wellness benefits

Job summary

HeatTek is seeking an Aftermarket Project Sales Engineer who develops, quotes, sells, and manages small-project opportunities for customers, coordinating with engineering, service, purchasing, and manufacturing. The role blends technical problem-solving with project management, requiring field verification, accurate quotes, and leadership to drive orders from opportunity through completion.

Candidates should have a strong engineering and mechanical background and be able to work independently

Qualifications

• Strong technical and engineering aptitude for industrial equipment and solutions.
• Experience developing estimates, quotations, and coordinating vendors.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with customers or HeatTek sales reps to understand equipment issues and project objectives.
• Develop project scope, required parts, equipment modifications, subcontracted services, field labor, and installation.
• Prepare budgetary and firm estimates, develop pricing, and create accurate quotations reflecting scope, cost, margin, schedule.
• Present solutions and quotations to customers, negotiate details, and support contract closure.
• Coordinate with Purchasing and Inventory to source materials and monitor procurement and delivery.
• Manage projects from opportunity to completion, maintaining schedules and open-item lists.
• Develop and maintain project communication and status updates throughout the lifecycle.
• Identify aftermarket opportunities and support growth of the Aftermarket business.

Skills

Engineering mindset

Project management

Customer-facing

Estimating

Sales process

Budgeting

Vendor coordination

Communication

Education

Associate degree in Engineering Technology or related

3–5 years in applications estimating or technical sales

Experience with industrial equipment/heat-processing

Job description

Under the direction of the Director of Aftermarket Services, the Aftermarket Project Sales Engineer develops, quotes, sells, and manages small-project opportunities for new and existing customers. The role combines technical problem-solving, estimating, sales, and project management to identify customer needs, define scope and pricing, secure orders, and coordinate projects through completion. The position requires a strong engineering and mechanical mindset, broad knowledge of industrial equipment, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with customers, vendors, Engineering, Service, Purchasing, Inventory, and Manufacturing.

Uncommon Extras

• Bonus Paid Holidays
• Immediate Vesting for Company Matched 401K
• Annual Discretionary Profit-Sharing Bonus
• Summer Hours
• Flexible Scheduling
• Progressive healthcare benefits for personalized wellness support, including no-cost or low-cost Direct Primary Care

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Communicate directly with customers and/or HeatTek sales representatives to understand equipment issues, project objectives, operating requirements, and desired outcomes.
• Evaluate customer-provided photographs, drawings, specifications, equipment information, and operating conditions to determine potential solutions; conduct site visits when additional field verification is required.
• Develop project concepts and clearly define the scope of work, including required parts, equipment modifications, subcontracted services, field labor, installation, and other project requirements.
• Prepare budgetary and firm estimates, develop project pricing, and create accurate customer quotations that reflect scope, cost, margin, schedule, vendor input, and commercial requirements.
• Present proposed technical solutions and quotations to customers; answer technical and commercial questions, clarify scope, negotiate project details as appropriate, and support the sales process through contract closure.
• Review customer purchase orders, contracts, specifications, and related documents to identify scope discrepancies, commercial requirements, risks, and items requiring clarification before order acceptance.
• Manage assigned projects from initial opportunity through completion by coordinating resources, maintaining schedules, budgets, open-item lists, documentation, and customer/internal communication; monitoring cost, scope, schedule, and progress; and following through on commitments.
• Develop and maintain project communication, documentation, open-item lists, and customer-facing status updates throughout the project lifecycle.
• Research and qualify components, equipment, manufacturers, and outside services necessary to support the proposed solution.
• Work closely with Purchasing and Inventory to source required materials and monitor procurement activity, lead times, and delivery requirements.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, and Field Service as necessary to ensure technical requirements are understood and project commitments are achieved.
• Assist the Service Manager with scheduling and workflow coordination for field labor, installation, startup, or other service resources associated with assigned projects.
• Proactively identify execution issues, communicate changes, and take action to prevent avoidable delays, cost overruns, or scope concerns.
• Maintain accurate and complete project records, including quotations, customer communications, technical information, order documentation, change documentation, and closeout materials.
• Develop and maintain a strong working knowledge of HeatTek equipment, manufacturing capabilities, aftermarket offerings, and common customer applications.
• Identify aftermarket opportunities during customer interactions and support continued growth of the Aftermarket business.
• Demonstrate and promote the Company’s Core Values; maintain current technical knowledge; follow safety policies; maintain departmental housekeeping standards; and provide backup support as assigned.
• Working Conditions: Combination of office, manufacturing plant, and customer jobsite environments. May work near moving mechanical equipment and may be exposed to noise, fumes, airborne particles, heat, or other industrial conditions. Must use required PPE based on the environment and work being performed.
• Physical Requirements: Must be capable of sitting, standing, walking, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching as needed to evaluate industrial equipment and customer jobsites. Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Driving and Travel Requirements: Must maintain a valid state driver’s license, have access to reliable transportation, and carry the state minimum required auto insurance. Approximately 25–35% travel is required based on customer and project needs; actual travel frequency may vary depending on project and service requests. Must maintain necessary travel documents and meet customer jobsite entry requirements.
• Customer Service and Communication: Must maintain confidentiality and use discretion with business information. Must communicate clearly, professionally, positively, and in a timely with customers, vendors, and coworkers, and must be comfortable presenting recommendations, explaining technical concepts, and addressing questions or concerns.
• Focus and Direction: Able to manage interruptions, multiple active projects, competing priorities, and overlapping deadlines while maintaining accuracy and quality. Requires a proactive, self-directed approach and ownership of assignments through completion.
• Analytical Aptitude: Ability to read, interpret, and analyze customer specifications, contracts, purchase orders, engineering drawings, schematics, blueprints, equipment manuals, technical documentation, and other complex project information. Must be able to evaluate incomplete information, ask appropriate questions, identify risk, and develop practical solutions.
• Technology: Proficient with core business software including Teams, email, internet, scheduling tools, and Microsoft Office applications. Must be comfortable learning and using ERP, estimating, project management, and other technical/business systems required by the role.
• Hours and Work Environment: Must meet or exceed job requirements and company expectations. Must be able to work a minimum of 40 hours per week and additional hours as necessary to meet customer and project deadlines. Schedule flexibility may be required based on travel, field work, and customer needs.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Strong technical and engineering aptitude with the ability to understand industrial equipment and develop practical solutions from limited or incomplete customer information.
• Broad mechanical understanding and working knowledge of industrial electrical systems and controls.
• Ability to develop project scope, estimate material and labor requirements, evaluate vendor pricing, and prepare accurate quotes.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to understand pricing, margins, project costs, and the business impact of scope decisions.
• Customer-facing confidence and professionalism with the ability to present solutions, answer questions, negotiate project details, and support closing the sale.
• Strong project management, planning, organization, and follow-through skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to independently assess situations, identify urgency and risk, exercise sound judgment, and make timely decisions in the best interest of the customer and Company.
• Ability to build effective relationships and collaborate across internal departments, vendors, subcontractors, and customers.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, accountable, and comfortable owning results from customer request through project completion.

Education and Experience

• Associate degree in Engineering Technology, Mechanical/Electrical/Industrial Technology, or a related discipline (or equivalent combination of education and direct industrial experience).
• 3–5 years of experience in applications estimating project engineering, technical service, or a similar technical customer-facing role.
• Strong technical background with custom-engineered industrial machinery, heat-processing equipment, automation, controls, or mechanical systems.
• Proven ability to manage solutions from concept to completion, including developing estimates/quotations and coordinating vendors.
• Excellent communication skills with a demonstrated ability to translate client needs into technical solutions (prior technical sales experience is beneficial but not required).

Note: This position does not offer Relocation Assistance.