Technical Sales Engineer – Overhead Crane Service

Wolverine Crane & Service, Inc.; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Auto allowance

Phone stipend

401(k) with company match

Medical, dental, vision, life and long

Job summary

Wolverine Crane & Service, Inc. is seeking an experienced Technical Sales Engineer with direct overhead crane industry experience to grow our service business across Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

You will develop new accounts, expand existing relationships, and drive profitable service revenue through inspections, PM agreements, repairs, replacements, and modernization projects. The ideal candidate understands overhead bridge cranes and hoists, translates technical knowledge into

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of direct overhead crane, hoist, or industrial lifting equipment experience.
• Translate equipment specs and inspection findings into customer proposals.
• Proven relationship-building, negotiation, and sales account management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and sales or CRM software.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel throughout Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

Responsibilities

• Develop service revenue in Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan through inspections, PM agreements, repairs, and modernization projects.
• Visit customer facilities to assess crane and hoist needs and prepare clear quotes.
• Coordinate scope, pricing, and delivery with service, field technicians, and engineering teams.
• Maintain accurate customer records, pipeline, quotations, and activity in company systems.
• Foster recurring maintenance relationships and new preventive maintenance opportunities.

Skills

Relationship building

Negotiation

Communication

Organizational skills

Travel willingness

Education

Engineering or technical degree

Tools

MS Office

CRM software

Job description

Wolverine Crane & Service is a 100% employee-owned Michigan company offering in-house engineering, fabrication, installation, modernization, inspections, and 24/7/365 crane service. Our Romulus team supports industrial customers across Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan. We take pride in responsive service, practical technical expertise, and long-term customer relationships. Michigan’s Most Responsive Crane Provider.

Technical Sales Engineer – Service Focus

Proudly Employee-Owned | Michigan-Based | Full-Service Crane Manufacturer & Service Provider

Primary Location: Romulus, Michigan

Territory: Metro Detroit & Southeast Michigan

Reports To: Director of Sales

Status: Full-Time | Outside Technical Sales

Position Summary

Wolverine Crane & Service, Inc. is seeking an experienced Technical Sales Engineer with direct overhead crane industry experience to grow our service business throughout Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan. This relationship-driven position develops new accounts, expands existing customer relationships, and generates profitable service revenue through inspections, preventive maintenance agreements, emergency and scheduled repairs, replacement parts, and modernization projects.

The ideal candidate understands overhead bridge cranes and hoists, can evaluate customer equipment needs, and translates technical knowledge into practical recommendations. This role works closely with our Romulus service operation, field technicians, branch management, and engineering team to deliver prompt, dependable customer support.

Key Responsibilities

Service Sales & Business Development

• Develop new business and increase service revenue in the assigned Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan territory.
• Promote and sell inspection services, preventive maintenance agreements, corrective repairs, replacement parts, and crane modernization.
• Convert reactive service customers into recurring maintenance and inspection relationships.
• Prospect and build relationships with plant managers, maintenance leaders, engineers, and purchasing personnel.
• Manage opportunities from initial customer engagement through proposal, follow-up, and award; meet established revenue and margin targets.

Technical Sales & Customer Support

• Visit customer facilities, evaluate bridge crane and hoist requirements, and identify service and reliability improvement opportunities.
• Review inspection findings and repair needs with service personnel; prepare clear, accurate scopes and quotations.
• Recommend practical repairs, component replacements, controls upgrades, or modernizations based on safety, reliability, and lifecycle value.
• Use working knowledge of OSHA, MIOSHA, ASME B30, and manufacturer guidance, as applicable, without representing an inspection or certification beyond personal qualifications.

Customer Relationships & Account Management

• Be a responsive technical resource and maintain regular contact with assigned customers.
• Follow up promptly on open quotes, inspection recommendations, completed service work, and customer concerns.
• Identify related opportunities in new cranes, runway systems, relocations, modifications, and upgrades.
• Coordinate customer expectations with branch management on service capacity, availability, and scheduling.

Internal Coordination & Sales Administration

• Partner with the Director of Sales, Director of Service, Romulus branch management, technicians, and engineering to scope and price work.
• Document customer requirements, equipment information, site conditions, commercial terms, and proposed scope accurately.
• Complete a timely handoff of awarded work to the service team and communicate material changes to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate account, pipeline, quotation, and activity records in Wolverine business systems; participate in sales reviews.

Safety & Professional Conduct

• Comply with Wolverine and customer site safety requirements, including appropriate PPE.
• Communicate identified safety concerns promptly to the appropriate customer and Wolverine personnel.
• Demonstrate accountability, strong follow-through, sound business judgment, and Wolverine's employee-owner values.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum five years of direct experience in the overhead crane, hoist, or industrial lifting equipment industry, including technical sales, service, estimating, or customer-facing technical support.
• Sound understanding of bridge cranes, hoists, and their mechanical, electrical, and control components.
• Experience with crane service, inspections, preventive maintenance, repair, parts, or modernization offerings.
• Ability to understand equipment specifications, inspection findings, and technical documentation and to translate them into customer proposals.
• Demonstrated relationship-building, business development, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and sales or customer management software.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel routinely within Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with an overhead crane manufacturer, crane service business, or industrial hoist distributor.
• Prior field service, electrical/mechanical troubleshooting, or service estimating experience.
• Familiarity with OSHA, MIOSHA, ASME B30 requirements, variable frequency drives, hoists, controls, and crane maintenance practices.
• Engineering or technical degree; substantial directly relevant industry experience may substitute.

Core Competencies

• Overhead crane technical expertise and consultative selling
• Customer relationships and service responsiveness
• Recurring revenue and account growth
• Technical scoping, sound judgment, and profitability awareness
• Clear communication, collaboration, and consistent follow-through

Performance Expectations

• Service revenue and gross margin growth within the assigned territory.
• New customer acquisition, account development, and customer retention.
• New preventive maintenance and inspection agreements and recurring revenue.
• Repair, parts, and modernization sales; pipeline quality and quotation conversion.
• Timely, complete customer activity documentation and internal coordination.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

Regular travel to customer industrial facilities is required. Work includes walking through manufacturing and maintenance areas; exposure to machinery and industrial noise; and following all posted safety and PPE requirements. Office work involves computer and telephone use. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified individuals.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary with commission and performance incentive opportunities.
• Participation in Wolverine's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), subject to plan eligibility.
• Automobile Allowance and Phone Stipend.
• Company-supported travel and field sales resources.
• 401(k) with company match; medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits.
• Paid time off, paid holidays, and professional development opportunities.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Wolverine Crane & Service, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without unlawful discrimination based on any characteristic protected by applicable law. This description summarizes the principal duties of the position and is not an employment contract. Responsibilities may change with business needs. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified individuals to perform essential functions.