Application Engineering Specialist - Merlo Energy

The Kendall Group, Inc.; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Job summary

The Kendall Group, Inc. is seeking an Application Engineering Specialist to join the Merlo Energy sales team. You will craft quotes, enter orders, and actively engage with pre-identified leads to understand needs and recommend products and solutions.

Collaborate with Customer Specialists to ensure seamless customer interactions and drive profitable growth. Reporting to the Inside Sales & Service Manager, you will nurture customer relationships, translate technical details into actionable

Qualifications

• 5 years of industrial sales experience or 7 years of technical experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Strong MS Office and Excel skills; ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical documents and bid specifications.

Responsibilities

• Actively engage with pre-identified leads and customers.
• Review applications involving product sizing and selection.
• Clarify customer understanding of products and services; provide relevant information.
• Communicate project development to customers, outside sales reps, manufacturers, and location manager; recommend materials and equipment.
• Generate and process bids and orders tailored to customer needs.
• Initiate proactive communication with customers and stakeholders for ongoing project support.
• Understand project needs; review bid documents, specs, and drawings.
• Conduct field visits to optimize quoting and ordering process.
• Explain and articulate product features and applications to customers.
• Communicate with customers and vendors through various channels.
• Participate in sales and product training sessions.
• Manage project data in the system; stay current on product offerings.
• Maintain a positive, empathetic, professional attitude toward customers.

Skills

Industrial sales

Technical experience

MS Office

Excel

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Excel

CRM systems

Job description

About The Kendall Group

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?

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

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

The essential duties and responsibilities of the Application Engineering Specialist will consist of, but are not limited to, the following:

• 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.

Learn more about our company, benefits, and culture here.

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 Fittings 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.

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 that more than 60% of our associates have more than five years of tenure, and more than 40% have greater than ten 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.