External Sales Specialist (Process Automation)

Square 1 Recruitment; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Square 1 Recruitment is seeking an External Sales Specialist for the Process Automation sector in Gauteng and Limpopo. You will manage a technical sales territory, turning instrumentation knowledge into commercial opportunities, and travel to client sites.

You should have 5+ years in instrumentation/automation, strong knowledge of flow, level, pressure, temperature and analytical instrumentation, plus CRM and Salesforce exposure. The role offers ownership of the territory and ongoing training.

Qualifications

• Matric plus a National Diploma, N6 with an Instrumentation Trade.
• Strong practical knowledge of industrial instrumentation and process automation.
• Approximately 5+ years' experience within instrumentation, automation or a closely related industrial environment.
• Proven technical / external sales experience selling into industrial customers.
• Good working knowledge of instrumentation such as flow, level, pressure, temperature and/or analytical measurement.
• Able to understand customer applications and sell technical solutions rather than simply products.
• Experience managing quotations, opportunities, sales pipelines, forecasts and customer accounts.
• Comfortable developing both existing accounts and new business.

Responsibilities

• Managing and growing an existing portfolio of industrial customers while developing new business opportunities.
• Building strong relationships with technical, engineering, maintenance, operations and procurement stakeholders.
• Identifying customer applications and recommending appropriate instrumentation, automation, service and solution offerings.
• Growing account penetration through cross-selling across a broad process instrumentation portfolio.
• Developing opportunities for flow, level, pressure, temperature, analytical and related automation solutions.
• Managing leads, opportunities, quotations and sales pipelines through CRM.
• Following up quotations and converting opportunities into profitable sales.
• Preparing territory sales plans, revenue budgets and rolling forecasts.
• Identifying upcoming projects and positioning solutions early in the project lifecycle.
• Tracking competitor activity, customer requirements and market opportunities.
• Working closely with Internal Sales, Service, Projects and Marketing teams.
• Maintaining regular customer contact.

Skills

Process instrumentation

Industrial instrumentation

Technical sales

Territory management

Consultative selling

Salesforce

CRM experience

Customer engagement

Education

National Diploma, N6 with an Instrumentation Trade

Tools

CRM systems

Salesforce (CRM)

Job description

External Sales Specialist (Process Automation)

Sandton, South Africa | Posted on 20/08/2026

Grow a Technical Sales Territory in Process Automation.

If you understand process instrumentation and know how to turn technical knowledge into commercial opportunities, this is a strong opportunity to take ownership of an established sales territory while developing new business across Gauteng and Limpopo.

We’re looking for an experienced technical sales professional from the industrial instrumentation / process automation sector who can engage confidently with customers, understand their applications, identify opportunities and sell solutions across flow, level, pressure, temperature and analytical instrumentation .

The territory includes Midrand, Pretoria and surrounding areas, Lephalale, Polokwane, Musina and Phalaborwa , so this role will suit someone comfortable being on the road, building relationships and spending time at customer sites.

You’ll be responsible for:

Managing and growing an existing portfolio of industrial customers while developing new business opportunities.

Building strong relationships with technical, engineering, maintenance, operations and procurement stakeholders.

Identifying customer applications and recommending appropriate instrumentation, automation, service and solution offerings.

Growing account penetration through cross-selling across a broad process instrumentation portfolio.

Developing opportunities for flow, level, pressure, temperature, analytical and related automation solutions .

Managing leads, opportunities, quotations and sales pipelines through CRM.

Following up quotations and converting opportunities into profitable sales.

Preparing territory sales plans, revenue budgets and rolling forecasts.

Identifying upcoming projects and positioning solutions early in the project lifecycle.

Tracking competitor activity, customer requirements and market opportunities.

Working closely with Internal Sales, Service, Projects and Marketing teams.

Maintaining regular customer contact.

Taking ownership of sales growth, opportunity creation, account development and market share within the territory.

Requirements

Matric plus a relevant National Diploma, N6 with an Instrumentation Trade.

Strong practical knowledge of industrial instrumentation and/or process automation.

Approximately 5+ years' experience within instrumentation, automation or a closely related industrial environment.

Proven technical / external sales experience selling into industrial customers.

Good working knowledge of instrumentation such as flow, level, pressure, temperature and/or analytical measurement.

Able to understand customer applications and sell technical solutions rather than simply products.

Experience managing quotations, opportunities, sales pipelines, forecasts and customer accounts.

Comfortable developing both existing accounts and new business.

CRM experience; Salesforce exposure would be advantageous.

Instrumentation / Automation Trade Test would be advantageous, particularly where supported by strong technical sales experience.

Consultative or solution-selling training would be beneficial.

Valid driver's licence and willingness to obtain a C1 (Code 10) licence and PDP if required.

Must be comfortable with extensive regional travel and occasional nights away from home.

Ideally based within or realistically accessible to the assigned Gauteng / Limpopo territory.

Salary & Benefits

Competitive salary package based on qualifications and experience.

This is an opportunity to represent a well-established international process instrumentation and automation business, work across a broad technical product and solutions portfolio, and take ownership of a substantial industrial sales territory.

The role also offers ongoing technical and commercial development through webinars, online learning and classroom-based training.