Sales Engineer

Location: Elgin, IL | Compensation: $70,000 Base + Commission (Target OTE $100K) | Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM | Employment: Full-Time, Direct HireBuild Your Sales Career with a Growing Global Industrial Automation Manufacturer! We are partnering with a global manufacturer of custom industrial automation and capital equipment in the Elgin, IL area that is looking to add a motivated, early-career Sales Engineer / Business Development Representative to its growing team. This company designs and manufactures highly engineered equipment used by manufacturers across a variety of industries, including electrical, HVAC, construction, and data centers. With business booming due to increased demand for automation and the rapid expansion of AI/data center infrastructure, the company is investing in its sales team to support continued growth. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a manufacturing background who is hungry to build a long-term career in technical sales. You don't need to be an engineer or have extensive sales experience. The company is looking for someone driven, personable, and eager to learn who wants to grow alongside the business. Why This Opportunity?$70K base salary + commission, with target total earnings around $100K.Strong business momentum driven by growing demand for industrial automation and data center infrastructure. Direct mentorship from experienced sales leadership, with hands-on training in technical products and capital equipment sales. Long-term career growth within a global organization that is actively expanding its U.S. operations. Small, family-oriented team environment with the resources and stability of an established international manufacturer. Opportunity to break into high-value technical sales without needing an engineering degree.

What You'll Be Doing: Prospect manufacturers across the U.S. through cold calling, LinkedIn, email, and networking. Identify new business opportunities, qualify prospective customers, and schedule meetings for the technical sales team. Follow up on inbound leads, warm prospects, and existing contacts. Research target companies and industries to identify potential customers. Build and maintain a pipeline of prospects while tracking outreach and activity through CRM systems. Work directly with sales leadership to develop prospecting strategies and grow the customer base.

What We're Looking For: 1+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally in sales, business development, inside sales, or a customer-facing role. Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field preferred. Strong communication skills and confidence speaking with prospective customers and decision-makers. Comfortable with cold calling, outbound prospecting, and high-volume outreach. Self-motivated, competitive, coachable, and genuinely interested in building a career in sales. Experience with CRM systems or LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a plus. No engineering degree or technical equipment sales experience required. Product and industry training will be provided. Interested? If you have a manufacturing background, enjoy building relationships, and want an opportunity to grow into a rewarding technical sales career with significant earning potential, we'd love to connect! Apply today to learn more about this opportunity!