Job description
Greater Chicago Area or Remote within the Midwest (with regular travel, approx. 40–60%)
Reports to: President, U.S. Subsidiary
About Our Client:
Our client is the U.S. subsidiary of an established international industrial group specializing in high-precision contract manufacturing for technically demanding applications. The company supports customers across industries such as aerospace, defense, semiconductor, energy, medical technology, and advanced industrial manufacturing, delivering engineered manufacturing solutions where accuracy, reliability, and repeatability are critical.
The organization is currently in a phase of strategic expansion in North America and is building a dedicated commercial presence to support long-term customer partnerships. This role plays a key part in strengthening the company’s footprint in the U.S. market and offers close collaboration with engineering experts and leadership teams both locally and internationally.
About the Role:
As a Technical Sales Engineer, you will support the company’s commercial growth in the U.S. by acting as the technical interface between customers and internal engineering teams. The role focuses on identifying and qualifying opportunities, guiding customers through feasibility and solution discussions, and supporting RFQ-driven contract manufacturing projects for complex, engineered components.
Rather than high-volume or transactional sales, this position emphasizes technical understanding, consultative customer engagement, and long-term relationship building. You will be involved throughout the full sales cycle—from initial qualification through technical coordination, proposal development, and commercial alignment, working closely with engineering, project, and operations teams in the U.S. and Germany.
Regular customer visits, on-site technical discussions, and participation in selected industry events are an integral part of the role.
Key Responsibilities:
Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities in precision contract manufacturing and technical services, in line with the company’s commercial strategy.
Manage the full sales process from initial customer contact and needs assessment through RFQ coordination, technical clarification, proposal discussion, and contract alignment.
Understand customer requirements, drawings, and specifications, and clearly communicate feasible technical solutions in close collaboration with internal engineering teams.
Act as the primary point of contact for U.S. customers, building and maintaining strong, long-term relationships through structured communication and consistent follow-up.
Serve as the key link between customers and internal engineering/project teams in the U.S. and Germany, ensuring a smooth handover from sales into project execution.
Support technical discussions, feasibility reviews, site visits, and customer evaluations as needed.
Monitor market developments, customer feedback, and competitive activity, and share insights to support ongoing commercial and strategic development.
Represent the company at customer meetings, technical workshops, and selected trade shows and industry events.
What Our Client is Looking For:
A technical or business-related degree (e.g., engineering, industrial technology) or equivalent practical experience enabling a solid understanding of complex manufacturing processes.
Several years of experience in technical sales, applications engineering, or customer-facing roles within contract manufacturing or advanced manufacturing environments.
Strong ability to understand customer requirements and translate technical concepts into clear, practical solutions in collaboration with engineering teams.
Experience supporting longer, multi-step B2B sales cycles in specialized or regulated industrial applications.
Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills, with a consultative and customer-focused mindset.
A structured, reliable, and self-driven working style, comfortable operating independently within a growing U.S. organization.
Willingness to travel regularly for customer visits, on-site meetings, and industry events.
Comfort working in an international environment and collaborating closely with global teams, particularly in Europe.
Benefits Include:
- Competitive 401(k) plan with company match
- Generous Paid Time Off package
- Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including medical and dental options for individuals and families
- Car allowance and travel expense reimbursement in line with role requirements
- Company-provided work equipment, including laptop, mobile phone, and company credit card
