Industrial Automation & Robotic Solution Spec

The Willamette Valley Company; Eugene (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Willamette Valley Company is seeking an Industrial Automation Specialist to drive growth in General Industry and Material Joining segments through identifying, developing, and converting automation opportunities. You will partner with customers, engineering, project management, and operations to shape solutions and guide opportunities from initial engagement to project award.

This high-visibility role focuses on expanding market presence, building relationships, and delivering solutions that

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in technical sales, preferably automation.
• Proven success growing revenue in industrial manufacturing markets.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and automation technologies.
• Experience leading complex sales opportunities with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• CRM experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Make sales calls in person to Western States clients and new prospects.
• Evaluate manufacturing processes and identify automation opportunities.
• Develop relationships with purchasing, manufacturing, engineering and operations stakeholders.
• Communicate customer requirements and project objectives to internal teams.
• Support development of proposals, budgets, quotations, and scope definitions.
• Create and deliver presentations and solution recommendations.
• Guide opportunities through qualification, proposal review, negotiation and award.
• Assist in transitioning awarded projects to project management and engineering teams.
• Maintain accurate opportunity and forecast data in the CRM.
• Represent the company at trade shows and industry events.
• Achieve sales, revenue and growth objectives.

Skills

Technical sales

Automation technologies

Relationship building

Communication

Sales forecasting

Prospecting

Opportunity qualification

Multi-stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or related discipline

Tools

CRM

Job description

Position Summary

The Industrial Automation Specialist is responsible for driving growth within the General Industry and Material Joining market segments by identifying, developing, and converting sales opportunities for robotic automation and advanced manufacturing solutions. This role focuses on expanding market presence, developing customer relationships, and positioning the company as a trusted automation partner for manufacturers seeking to improve productivity, quality, safety, and operational performance.

Position Summary

The Industrial Automation Specialist is responsible for driving growth within the General Industry and Material Joining market segments by identifying, developing, and converting sales opportunities for robotic automation and advanced manufacturing solutions. This role focuses on expanding market presence, developing customer relationships, and positioning the company as a trusted automation partner for manufacturers seeking to improve productivity, quality, safety, and operational performance.

Working closely with Customers, Engineering, Project Management, and Operations, the Industrial Automation Specialist identifies customer challenges, develops solution strategies, and guides opportunities through the sales process from initial engagement to project award. The role serves as a key voice of the customer and market, helping shape business strategy, solution offerings, and long‑term growth initiatives.

This is a high‑visibility position with direct influence on revenue growth, market expansion, customer acquisition, and the company’s long‑term robotics and automation strategy.

Primary Responsibilities

• Make sales calls in person to existing clients, customers and new prospects in the Western States to identify and pursue new business opportunities in the General Industrial and Material Joining market segments.
• Evaluate manufacturing processes and identify automation opportunities.
• Develop strong relationships with purchasing, manufacturing, engineering, operations, and executive stakeholders at both existing and prospective customers.
• Communicate customer requirements, project objectives, and business drivers to appropriate internal teams.
• Support the development of technical proposals, budgets, quotations, and project scope definitions.
• Create and deliver customer presentations, business cases, and solution recommendations.
• Guide opportunities through qualification, concept development, proposal review, negotiation, and award.
• Assist in transitioning awarded projects to project management and engineering teams.
• Maintain accurate opportunity, forecast, and customer activity information within the CRM system.
• Represent the company at trade shows, industry conferences, customer events, and networking activities.
• Achieve established sales, revenue, and growth objectives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or related discipline; equivalent industry experience may be considered.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in technical sales, preferably in automation related fields
• Demonstrated success developing new business and growing revenue within industrial manufacturing markets.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, automation technologies, and industrial production environments.
• Experience leading complex sales opportunities involving multiple technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship‑building skills.
• Highly organized, self‑driven, and capable of managing multiple opportunities simultaneously.
• CRM experience preferred.

Required Credentials

• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid U.S. Passport.

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel approximately 30-50% throughout Western North America.
• Ability to work within customer manufacturing and industrial environments with keen awareness of safety standards and proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

Performance Measures

Success in this role will be measured through:

• Revenue growth within General Industry and Material Joining segments
• New customer acquisition
• Qualified pipeline development
• Gross margin performance
• Market share growth
• Customer engagement and relationship development
• Forecast accuracy
• Contribution to strategic market expansion initiatives