Sales Force Engineer

We've grown from a small tooling shop in a backyard in Richmond, Indiana to a $30M+ tooling, engineering and custom automation firm. Throughout that growth though, we've never lost our small business feel, where our leaders truly care about the people working for them - and it shows. Sometimes our customers come to us looking for a specific need and an idea of how to address it, and sometimes we hear the challenge and jump in from a blank slate to create the perfect solution.

Ahaus is well known for flexible start times Monday through Friday, generous paid time off, paid holidays, employee recognition and incentives, volunteer and outreach events, employee breakfasts and barbeques, pitch-ins, summer games, company outings, shared hobbies, and many other perks. from building cars, tractors, firearms, and robots to marksmanship and trap shooting, axe throwing, cycling, restoring old furniture, music, and the arts.

We're looking for a Sales Engineer to cover outside sales of custom automation, robotics, machining & engineering solutions in our Southwest US territory – someone, with a little help in getting acclimated, who can hit the ground running. If you're a team player with skills and outside sales experience that align with the functions below, we would like to hear from you. The Sales Engineer is responsible for generating sales with new and existing customers, communicating customer requirements, and managing customer relationships.

Key performance objectives in order of priority with ideal time allocation are

50% - Identifying opportunities with new and existing customers and closing new business while achieving profitability goals.
20% - Following the company’s process for communicating project requirements to all internal stakeholders so that we create accurate and competitive quotes and deliver successful projects.
10% - Consulting with customers and executing account management plans to build good, long-term relationships and earn repeat business.

Shares information and best practices with peers and assists with developing solutions for meeting customer requirements, troubleshooting issues and serving as a sounding board. Presents proposals to customers and follows up to move open opportunities through the sales funnel and close new business. Follows up with customers post project to handle inquiries and serves as a resource. Stays on top of future needs by working an account management plan and participating in the customer’s planning process.

Develops and implements account plans to identify and act on opportunities with current customers and expand Ahaus’ presence within the account. Qualifies customer needs, identifies and establishes working relationships with key influencers and positions Ahaus as a viable partner. Partners with independent manufacturing representatives, serving as a technical resource and providing assistance with qualifying customer requirements and moving opportunities through the sales process. Hunts for new business development opportunities in customer segments that align to Ahaus’ sales plan.

Key activities include networking activities, participation in professional organizations, social media groups, and attending trade shows and conferences. Works closely with engineering and manufacturing to understand capacities, technical capabilities and production scheduling for servicing existing and/or potential customers. Coordinates the flow of information between the customer and engineering as part of the process for clarifying project requirements and capturing all relevant design details for quote development.

Communicates initial project concept and ensures the customer’s scope of work is clearly understood. Participates in project launch meetings and ensures scope of work, specifications, and customer requirements are handed off to production and all internal check offs completed. Monitors customer’s project and assists with resolving escalated issues as required. Utilizes Salesforce customer relationship management software to report on the sales funnel, account plans and opportunities projected to close.

Provides accounting purchase order details including scope of work, terms and conditions for delivery, shipment and payment, and customer contact information. Assists with following up on past due accounts and collection of payment. We anticipate that this role will travel 35-40% of the time; however, this number may vary for candidates located within the territory due to travel efficiencies.