Application Engineering Specialist - Merlo Energy

Merlo Energy; Claymont (DE); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Kendall Group is seeking an Application Engineering Specialist to join Merlo Energy's sales team. You will partner with Customer Specialists to craft quotes, enter orders, and engage with leads to identify requirements and propose product solutions.

Your role blends technical acumen with a customer-centric approach to drive profitable growth. Reporting to the Inside Sales & Service Manager, you will help translate customer needs into quotes and orders while supporting field teams.

Qualifications

• 5 years of industrial sales experience or 7 years of technical experience.
• Proficient with MS Office and Excel; able to read, analyze, and interpret technical documents and bid specifications.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.

Responsibilities

• Actively engage with pre-identified leads and nurture relationships.
• Review applications including product sizing and selection for accuracy.
• Clarify product understanding and answer customer questions with relevant information.
• Communicate project development to customers, outside reps, manufacturers, and location manager; analyze materials and equipment.
• Generate and process bids and orders tailored to customer needs.
• Maintain proactive communication with customers for ongoing project support.
• Review bid documents, specs, and drawings to identify project needs.
• Conduct field visits to optimize quoting and ordering processes.
• Explain product features and applications to customers.
• Participate in sales and product training sessions.
• Manage project data in the system accurately.
• Stay current on new product offerings and utilize knowledge in selling.
• Maintain professionalism and customer-centric focus.

Skills

Industrial sales

Technical experience

MS Office & Excel

Read and interpret technical docs

Communication & negotiation

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

About The Kendall Group

The Kendall Group is comprised of eight divisions with 75+ locations in ten states. Combined, we serve the Electrical, Automation, Pipe, Valve, and Fitting products, Steam, Lighting, Industrial Controls, and Instrumentation Industries. The Kendall Group is a 100% employee-owned company. Kendall offers a great opportunity for a rewarding career.

About The Kendall Group

The Kendall Group is comprised of eight divisions with 75+ locations in ten states. Combined, we serve the Electrical, Automation, Pipe, Valve, and Fitting products, Steam, Lighting, Industrial Controls, and Instrumentation Industries. The Kendall Group is a 100% employee-owned company. Kendall offers a great opportunity for a rewarding career.

Why The Kendall Group?

Our employee ownership model is the core of who we are. You will not only own part of the company, but you will own your future. At Kendall, you'll have opportunities to learn and grow while being coached and mentored along the way. We're that company where people stay! We're proud to say more than 60% of our associates have more than 5 years of tenure, and more than 40% have greater than 10 years. At Kendall, you will be valued and supported, your ideas will be heard, your voice will matter, and you'll work alongside incredible people who care about your success.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Inside Sales & Service Manager, the Application Engineering Specialist is a key member of the Merlo Energy sales team. As an Application Engineering Specialist, you play a pivotal role in our sales process, collaborating closely with our Customer Specialists (Outside Sales Representatives) to ensure seamless customer interactions. Your responsibilities include crafting quotes, entering orders, and actively engaging with pre-identified leads to understand their unique requirements and recommend suitable products and solutions. Through your proactive follow-up and consultative approach, you will nurture relationships with customers. By leveraging your technical acumen and customer-centric mindset, you contribute to driving profitable business growth. This role offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact by aligning customer needs with our innovative offerings.

Exciting Work You Will Do

• Actively engage with pre-identified leads.
• Review applications that consist of, but are not limited to, product sizing and selection.
• Clarify customer’s understanding of products and services, answering questions and offering relevant information.
• Communicate project development to the customer, outside sales representatives, manufacturers, and location manager; recommend and/or analyze materials and equipment required for the project.
• Generate and process bids and orders tailored to meet specific customer needs.
• Initiate and maintain proactive communication with customers and stakeholders to provide ongoing project support and updates.
• Identify and understand project needs and review bid documents, specifications, and drawings.
• Conduct field visits to the customer as needed to optimize the quoting and ordering process.
• Explain and articulate product features and applications.
• Communicate with customers and vendors through various channels.
• Participate in sales and product training sessions.
• Manage project data in the system as required.
• Stay current on new and evolving product offerings and utilize knowledge in selling activities.
• Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers.
• Understand and use engineering platforms within the system.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Competencies You Possess

• Service Excellence.
• Results, action oriented.
• Accountability and responsibility.
• Teamwork and collaboration.
• Displaying technical expertise.
• Detail oriented.
• Time Management.
• Organizational Ability.

What You’ll Need

• Work Experience: 5 years of industrial sales experience or 7 years of technical experience.
• Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Analytics/Computer Skills: Critical thinking and an eye for detail; competent with MS Office and Excel; ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical documents and bid specifications.
• Organization Skills: Highly organized and detail-oriented; ability to multi-task and shift priorities as needed; ability to work in a fast-paced, continuously evolving, and at times ambiguous environment.
• Communication Skills: High level of communication and negotiating skills; relationship building skills.
• Physical, Mental and Visual Skills: Ability to see, talk, and hear; ability to sit for 8 hours a day. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Physical Environment: Normal office environment.
• Travel Requirements: Must be able to travel; customer visitation and offsite work activities.
• Driver’s License: Possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Travel: 20% minimal overnight.

Qualifications We Prefer But Don’t Require

• Work Experience: Background in industrial and institutional sales and/or B2B sales.
• Analytics/Computer Skills: Experience with a prospecting system such as ZoomInfo or LinkedIn.

The Kendall Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, military status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.