Area Sales Manager - Robotics, Automation & Technical Equipment Sales

W3Global; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

W3Global is seeking an experienced technical sales professional to drive robotics and automation solutions in a field-based role across the United States. Expect frequent travel and direct engagement with customers to grow strategic relationships and revenue.

You will lead consultative discussions, tailor solutions to customer needs, and coordinate with engineering, commissioning, and service teams to close complex deals. A strong track record in B2B robotics sales is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field.
• At least five years of relevant B2B sales experience with a track record of meeting targets.
• Direct experience with robotics, automation, or autonomous systems.
• Proven success selling technical equipment or automation technology in a B2B environment.
• Experience developing customer relationships and managing sales activities through to close.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to both technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and understanding of equipment functionality.
• Ability to independently manage customer relationships and field-based territories.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ERP-based quoting and sales reporting.
• Willingness to travel ~70–80% across the U.S. and internationally when needed.
• Stable full-time employment history with at least five years in recent roles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and grow strategic customer relationships for automation solutions.
• Drive revenue through new equipment sales and account expansion.
• Lead consultative sales discussions with customer decision-makers and stakeholders.
• Apply robotics and autonomous-systems knowledge to customer needs.
• Collaborate with engineering, commissioning, and service teams.
• Develop quotations, proposals, and commercial agreements.
• Maintain an active sales pipeline and pursue revenue opportunities.
• Coordinate follow-up and implementation discussions for services.
• Maintain customer and sales data in ERP and Office.
• Represent the organization at customer sites and industry events nationwide.

Skills

Robotics sales

B2B sales

Account management

Technical communication

ERP quoting

MS Office

Customer relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Engineering

Tools

ERP systems

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Type: Full-Time | Field-Based

Travel: 70-80% nationwide travel, including overnight and occasional international travel

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and grow strategic customer relationships, identifying new opportunities for automation, autonomous systems, and specialized equipment.
• Drive revenue through new equipment sales, account expansion, and adoption of additional technical solutions.
• Lead consultative sales discussions with customer decision‑makers and operational stakeholders to understand applications, challenges, and technical requirements.
• Apply a practical understanding of robotics, automation, autonomous systems, and equipment functionality when discussing customer needs and potential solutions.
• Work closely with engineering, technical, commissioning, and service teams to support customer requirements throughout the sales and equipment lifecycle.
• Develop quotations, proposals, and commercial agreements in coordination with internal teams.
• Maintain an active sales pipeline, monitor account performance, and pursue opportunities that support territory revenue objectives.
• Coordinate customer follow-up, implementation‑related discussions, and ongoing service needs to strengthen long‑term partnerships.
• Maintain accurate customer, quotation, and sales information using ERP systems and Microsoft Office.
• Represent the organization at customer sites, industry events, and sales meetings across the United States and, when required, internationally.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• At least five years of relevant B2B sales experience, with a demonstrated record of meeting sales targets and growing customer revenue.
• Direct experience with robotics, automation, or autonomous systems, supported by a meaningful understanding of the technology and its customer applications. This is a core requirement, not simply a preferred qualification.
• Proven success selling technical equipment, engineered solutions, automation technology, or comparable products in a B2B environment.
• Experience developing customer relationships, identifying business opportunities, and managing sales activities through to commercial close.
• Ability to understand technical applications and communicate product capabilities and business value to both technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and the ability to understand equipment functionality and customer operating requirements.
• Ability to independently manage customer relationships, sales priorities, and follow‑through in a field‑based territory.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with ERP‑based quoting, sales reporting, and customer information management.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 70‑80% of the time throughout the United States, including frequent overnight travel and occasional international trips.
• A stable, traditional full‑time employment history, including at least five years in a full‑time position within recent employment history.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas will be especially relevant:

• Autonomous vehicles, autonomous mobile systems, or industrial robotics.
• Robotics and automation deployed in operational, industrial, logistics, or transportation environments.
• Aviation ground support equipment, airport operations, or cargo‑handling equipment.
• Material‑handling systems, industrial machinery, or specialized technical equipment.
• Equipment sales involving commissioning, field implementation, and after‑sales service coordination.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will bring more than general technical sales experience. They will understand the automation and autonomous‑systems environment, recognize where solutions can address customer needs, and confidently develop commercial opportunities.

Success will require consistent customer engagement, disciplined sales execution, the ability to travel extensively, and a focus on expanding accounts and generating measurable revenue.

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity is best suited to an experienced technical sales professional with direct robotics, automation, or autonomous‑systems exposure, a proven record of commercial results, and a genuine willingness to spend most of their working time traveling across the United States.

Candidates whose experience is limited to general software sales, IT services, or unrelated technical products without direct automation or autonomous‑systems exposure are unlikely to meet the core requirements.