Sales Application Engineer - Controls

OTTO Engineering, Inc.; Carpentersville (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit Sharing Bonus

Health Insurance

401(k) with company match

Vacation: 80 hours

10 paid holidays

Job summary

OTTO Engineering, Inc. in Carpentersville, IL seeks a Sales Application Engineer to support sales initiatives across North America. The position requires strong technical knowledge and the ability to manage projects successfully while collaborating with various teams, including Sales and Engineering.

Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering and have 2+ years of experience in a technical sales environment. OTTO offers a competitive salary range of $75,000 to $90,000 along with comprehensive benefits including health insurance, a 401(k) with match, and profit-sharing bonuses.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in a technical or manufacturing sales environment.
• Experience working with electro-mechanical products preferred.
• Detail-oriented and capable of managing multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Support sales project development across North America.
• Partner with Sales Managers to achieve revenue objectives.
• Build and strengthen customer relationships through direct engagement.

Skills

Technical aptitude

Communication skills

Project management

Electro-mechanical products knowledge

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Job description

• At OTTO, we don’t just manufacture products - we engineer mission‑critical solutions with precision and pride. Our Controls Division designs and manufactures high quality, comprehensive solutions that reliably perform for some of the most demanding markets in the world, serving the medical, off‑highway, and military / aerospace customers with switches, grips, and joysticks.
• As a core value, we focus on delivering for our customers through innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness … as a result, our growth continues!
• Employees are our greatest asset, which is why we share our company’s profits to celebrate our collective success.
• As a privately‑owned company, we are proud to invest significantly in our community and in our own growth, focusing on long‑term business success.
• We are proudly American!

As our Sales Application Engineer, you will support the growth and execution of sales initiatives across North America by combining technical expertise with commercial acumen. This role partners closely with Sales, Engineering, and outside manufacturer representatives to drive new business opportunities, support design‑in activities, and ensure successful project execution.

Specifically, the Sales Application Engineer will:

• Support and drive sales project development across North America, from opportunity identification through capture.
• Partner with Regional Sales Managers, Major Account Managers, independent manufacturer representatives, and distributors to achieve project and revenue objectives.
• Build and strengthen customer relationships through direct engagement, including customer visits, rep interactions, and trade show support.
• Coordinate and manage multiple projects simultaneously, aligning internal and external resources to meet timelines and objectives.
• Track and support key opportunities, assisting RSMs in advancing and closing business.
• Collaborate with the customer’s engineering teams to support design‑in activities and translate technical requirements into internal product solutions.
• Support RSMs to develop and deliver proposals, including responses to RFQs/RFPs and customized solutions aligned with customer needs.
• Identify and address technical challenges throughout the sales cycle to ensure customer satisfaction and successful project execution.
• Work cross‑functionally with Engineering to support product development and navigate OTTO’s Phase Gate process.
• Provide market intelligence, including competitive insights, new product opportunities, and long‑term growth trends.
• Travel as required to support customers, representatives, distributors, and industry trade shows.
• Support additional sales and business development activities as needed.
• Assist with other related duties as required or assigned.

About you – what you’ll bring to the table:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Mechanical or Electrical Engineering preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in a technical or manufacturing sales environment.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to quickly learn and apply product and application knowledge.
• Experience working with electro‑mechanical products (switches, joysticks, or similar) preferred.
• Project management experience with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Self‑motivated, detail‑oriented, and capable of working in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.
• Proven ability to follow through and execute against defined objectives.
• Willingness to travel and support non‑standard work schedules as required.
• Detail‑oriented.

What OTTO offers for this position:

The hiring range listed in this posting is what we, in good faith, anticipate relying on when confirming a base salary for this position; exceptions may be considered for highly experienced candidates with multiple years of at‑level experience.

• Target base salary hiring range: $75,000 to $90,000, based on qualifications and experience.
• Profit Sharing Bonus – OTTO believes that it’s fair to share the profits that the employees help to make; profit sharing is distributed to employees twice a year. OTTO’s profit sharing plan is paid at the discretion of the company and is not a guaranteed bonus or any part of a compensation plan.
• Vacation: 80 hours – vacation time is earned on the anniversary date.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: HMO Plan, Standard PPO Plan, Enhanced PPO Plan, High Deductible PPO Plan, FSA, LFSA, and HSA, Base Plan, Buy‑Up Plan.
• Vision Insurance.
• 401(k) with a company match.
• Life Insurance (Life/AD&D, Voluntary Life/AD&D).
• Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability.
• 10 paid holidays.
• Holiday party and numerous OTTO celebrations throughout the year.

OTTO Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran

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Request for Assistance / Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the online application process. You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability.

In case of reasonable accommodation, contact OTTO Engineering at 847-428-7171 or via email at HRDepartment @ ottoexcellence.com. These contact tools may be used only by individuals with a disability for accommodation requests; please do not inquire as to the status of an application.

OTTO Engineering does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiters, agencies, or similar organizations; any submissions will not be honored.