Product Sales Engineer

Rockford Ball Screw Co.; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rockford Ball Screw Co. seeks an experienced Product Sales Engineer who combines hands-on machinery knowledge with problem-solving skills to tailor ball screw and linear motion solutions for customers.

You will act as a technical liaison among customers, Sales, and Engineering, supporting machine tools, automation, robotics, and packaging equipment through the sales cycle. The role emphasizes practical engineering experience, strong communication, and ability to understand customer applications,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering or related technical field.
• 10+ years of practical experience in machine design, automation, or related equipment.
• Experience with ball screws, linear motion components, or similar systems.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings/blueprints and GD&T knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with customers to understand machine design, application requirements, and performance needs.
• Review drawings, specifications, and technical data to identify requirements and improvement opportunities.
• Provide advanced technical support to Sales and Engineering teams.
• Troubleshoot applications and field issues and propose practical solutions.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure customer requirements are met.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Machine design

Industrial automation

Motion control

Robotics

Troubleshooting

Customer communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

15+ years preferred in related equipment

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Rockford Ball Screw is looking for an experienced Product Sales Engineer who understands machinery, enjoys solving problems, and can work directly with customers to help develop the right solution for their application. This isn't a traditional sales role. We are looking for someone with enough real-world engineering and machine experience to understand what our customers are designing, building, and troubleshooting. What we're looking for is the experience that comes from working with the types of machines and applications that use ball screws such as electromechanical actuators, machine tools, industrial automation, robotics, material handling, packaging equipment, specialty machinery, and other precision motion systems. The right person can look at a machine, understand how the components work together, ask the right questions, and recognize when something doesn't look right.

Summary/Objective

The Product Sales Engineer (PSE) is responsible for providing technical support to customers and the Sales team by understanding customer applications, machine designs, and performance requirements to develop appropriate ball screw and linear motion solutions. The PSE serves as a technical liaison between customers, Sales, and Engineering throughout the sales and application process. This position requires practical knowledge of machinery, mechanical systems, and precision motion applications, with the ability to identify application requirements, troubleshoot issues, review technical information, and develop practical solutions. The PSE will support customer relationships and sales opportunities involving machine tools, industrial automation, robotics, material handling, packaging equipment, specialty machinery, and other precision motion systems.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Work directly with customers to understand their machine, application, performance requirements, operating conditions, and technical challenges.
2. Evaluate technical requirements including loads, speeds, duty cycles, accuracy, service life, mounting configurations, lubrication, operating environment, and overall machine configuration.
3. Review customer drawings, specifications, machine concepts, and other technical documentation to identify requirements, potential concerns, and opportunities for RBS products.
4. Provide advanced technical support to the Sales team by assisting with customer questions, product selection, application requirements, technical recommendations, and product knowledge.
5. Troubleshoot customer applications and field issues by evaluating equipment, operating conditions, and product performance and recommending potential solutions.
6. Participate in customer site visits and provide on-site technical support when necessary to assist with application reviews, troubleshooting, installation, or other customer needs.
7. Serve as a technical liaison between customers, Sales, Engineering, and other internal departments to ensure customer requirements are clearly communicated and appropriately addressed.
8. Work closely with Design Engineering throughout product development and custom application projects to communicate customer requirements and assist in developing appropriate solutions.
9. Maintain a strong understanding of RBS products, manufacturing capabilities, and application requirements to effectively communicate technical information to customers and internal teams.
10. Any/all other duties as assigned.

Supervision:

None

Work Environment and Physical Demands

Working conditions are normal for a manufacturing/office environment. Must be able to operate a computer/keyboard, ability to use phone, and sit for extended periods of time. Communicate using speech, hearing, written, and vision skills. May also work occasionally on the production floor requiring the use of safety equipment to include, but not limited to- safety glasses, hearing protection, and steel toed work boots or shoes.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. The standard working hours for exempt employees are set at 42.5 hours per week with a 30-minute lunch break each day. General business hours are 6:30 am- 5:00 pm. this position follows a specific work schedule of Monday through Friday, 7:30 am- 5:00 pm. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to meet business demands.

Travel

Varies but may be between 25-30% of the time, primarily within the continental United States by car and air. Travel will generally involve customer application meetings, technical sales support, troubleshooting, trade shows, and visits to OEMs and machine builders. Occasional international travel may also be required.

Compensation

Our current hiring pay range for this position is $90,000-$120,000. This hiring pay range is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and, in some instances, may include education, work experience, knowledge, skills and certifications.

In addition to this base pay, Rockford Ball Screw employees are eligible for a bonus. Depending on your position you may be categorized into different tiers in the quarterly or annual bonus plan. Currently, this position is classified as a Quarterly Bonus within the Individual Contributor tier.

Benefits

Rockford Ball Screw believes a happy healthy employee is what makes our business work. We want to continuously invest in the people that make it happen. Rockford Ball Screw eligible employees have access to a comprehensive competitive package. Please visit our website at https://rockfordballscrew.com/contact/careers/ for more information.

Requirements

Required Education and Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field is preferred; equivalent practical experience in machinery, engineering, manufacturing, or technical applications will also be considered.
2. 10+ years of practical experience in machine design, industrial automation, machine tools, motion control, robotics, special machinery, or related equipment.
3. Demonstrated experience working with machinery, machine design, industrial automation, machine tools, motion control, robotics, special machinery, or similar equipment.
4. Strong mechanical aptitude and a practical understanding of how machinery and mechanical systems work.
5. Hands-on experience with machine design, applications engineering, equipment commissioning, troubleshooting, or a similar technical discipline.
6. Experience working with ball screws, linear motion products, or equipment utilizing ball screws and linear motion components.
7. Ability to read, understand, and interpret mechanical drawings, blueprints, specifications, and related technical documentation.
8. Ability to recognize potential application or mechanical issues and recommend appropriate solutions.
9. Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to identify root causes and work through mechanical or application-related problems.
10. Experience communicating with engineers, machine builders, maintenance personnel, purchasing professionals, customers, and business leaders.
11. Ability to explain technical information clearly and directly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and customers.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. 15+ years of practical experience in machine design, industrial automation, machine tools, motion control, robotics, special machinery, or related equipment.
2. Experience in technical sales, applications engineering, product support, or a customer-facing engineering role.
3. Knowledge of product applications and the ability to determine how components should be applied based on a customer's machine design and operating requirements.
4. Experience visiting customer facilities, evaluating equipment, asking technical questions, and working directly with customers to develop solutions.
5. Knowledge of mechanical drafting standards and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
6. Experience providing technical training, mentoring, or developing the knowledge and capabilities of others.
7. Experience working with ERP systems and Microsoft Office or similar business and technical software.
8. Experience working closely with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and customers to develop and support technical solutions.

It is impossible to list every requirement for, or responsibility of, any position. Similarly, we cannot identify all the skills a position may require since job responsibilities and the Company’s needs may change over time. Therefore, the above job description is not comprehensive or exhaustive. The Company reserves the right to adjust, add to or eliminate any aspect of the above description. The Company also retains the right to require all employees to undertake additional or different job responsibilities when necessary to meet business needs.