Sales Engineer

Paul's Machine and Welding; Villa Grove (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

PAUL'S Machine and Welding Corp is seeking a sales professional to develop and grow relationships for contract manufacturing and custom automation.

You will translate customer needs into solutions, manage opportunities from prospecting to post-sale follow-up, and coordinate with estimating and engineering teams to deliver accurate quotes and successful projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent manufacturing/industrial experience.
• 3+ years of experience in technical/industrial sales, manufacturing, machining, fabrication, welding, automation, manufacturing engineering, estimating, project management, or a related industrial field.
• Demonstrated understanding of manufacturing processes, industrial equipment, and/or machine components.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, prints, dimensions, RFQs, and technical specifications.
• Strong organization and follow-through with the ability to independently manage multiple prospects, RFQs, quotations, and customer needs.
• Proficiency with standard business technology and the ability to consistently maintain CRM/ERP activity and documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to regularly travel to customer locations and job sites.

Responsibilities

• Prospect and grow new and existing customers for contract manufacturing and custom automation.
• Translate needs into customer solutions and prepare accurate quotes with complete information for estimators.
• Own opportunities from prospecting through quote, award, project execution, billing, and post-sale follow-up.
• Coordinate with estimating, engineering, machining, fabrication, automation, and operations teams.
• Maintain CRM/ERP activity and prepare sales forecasts, pipeline updates, and performance reporting.

Skills

Technical sales

Manufacturing

CRM/ERP proficiency

Reading drawings

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Summary:

Develop new business and grow existing customer relationships within PAUL'S contract manufacturing and custom automation division. This position combines technical manufacturing knowledge, proactive business development, account management, estimating support, and disciplined sales administration. The ideal candidate understands how things are machined, fabricated, welded, assembled, or automated and can translate needs into customer solutions. Success requires technical credibility, strong organization, and ownership of opportunities from initial prospecting through project completion and post-sale follow-up.

Sales & Business Development

• Actively prospect, develop, and grow new and existing customers relationships for contract manufacturing and custom automation through cold outreach, networking, referrals, customer visits, facility walk-throughs, and targeted account development.
• Develop strong relationships with manufacturers, OEMs, and industrial customers; understand their business, pain points, timelines, and expectations. Recognize potential solutions even when the customer has not yet fully identified.
• Identify and develop opportunities involving machining, fabrication, welding, contract manufacturing, machine building, and custom automation.
• Review and interpret mechanical drawings, prints, dimensions, RFQs, specifications, and other technical documentation. Provide estimating and operations with complete, detailed, and accurate information necessary to develop quotes. Facilitate questions and scope clarification between customer and internal teams.
• Develop and execute an individual sales plan, maintain a targeted prospect list and healthy pipeline, and consistently follow up on active opportunities, RFQs, and quotations through resolution.

Opportunity Management

• Own opportunities from initial prospecting through quote, award, project execution, billing, and post-sale follow-up, maintaining regular customer communication throughout the sales and project lifecycle.
• Coordinate customer requirements, technical questions, scope clarification, schedules, and changes with PAUL'S estimating, engineering, machining, fabrication, automation, and operations teams.
• Monitor customer commitments and project requirements, proactively communicate issues, and assist in resolving customer questions or concerns.
• Follow-up after project completion to ensure customer satisfaction, identify additional opportunities, and, when appropriate, secure consent for testimonials and/or project photography for marketing purposes.
• Maintain accurate, current customer, contact, opportunity, quotation, and sales activity information in the company CRM/ERP, including customer visits, prospecting activity, follow-ups, and next steps.
• Maintain visibility of pipeline activity and prepare required sales forecasts, pipeline updates, and performance reporting.
• Manage administrative responsibilities efficiently to maximize time available for prospecting, customer development, and revenue-generating activity.

Compensation may differ within or outside range based on a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, qualifications, specialized skills, education, geographic location, and internal pay equity considerations.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent manufacturing/industrial experience.
• 3+ years of experience in technical/industrial sales, manufacturing, machining, fabrication, welding, automation, manufacturing engineering, estimating, project management, or a related industrial field.
• Demonstrated understanding of manufacturing processes, industrial equipment, and/or machine components.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, prints, dimensions, RFQs, and technical specifications.
• Strong organization and follow-through with the ability to independently manage multiple prospects, RFQs, quotations, and customer needs.
• Proficiency with standard business technology and the ability to consistently maintain CRM/ERP activity and documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to regularly travel to customer locations and job sites.

PAUL'S Machine and Welding Corp is an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the job application or hiring process should email [e-mail]

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Shift Days

About the Organization

From humble beginnings to an industry leader - PAUL'S has been family owned for over 70 years, based on the same core values - Integrity, Hard Work, Teamwork, Respect.

Founded in 1951 as a small start-up at the end of WWII to modern day contract manufacturing and turnkey solutions in Automation, Engineering, Welding, Fabrication and Millwright services - that exceed customer expectations and foster long term relationships.

This position is currently accepting applications.