Job Title: Sales EngineerJob Description
This Sales Engineer role combines technical expertise with proactive business development to identify, shape, and secure new opportunities in robotics, automation, and electromechanical systems. You will work closely with engineering teams at customer sites to understand their system designs and future needs, uncover pain points, and position tailored solutions well before formal RFQs are issued. By leading technical discussions and coordinating internal resources, you will help convert early-stage opportunities into awarded business while ensuring successful execution and delivery.
Responsibilities
Identify and pursue new business opportunities before they progress into formal RFQs by staying closely engaged with customers' engineering and manufacturing teams.
Engage directly with customer engineering teams to understand system designs, development roadmaps, and future technical needs.
Lead technical discussions with customers, asking insightful technical questions to uncover pain points, constraints, and unmet needs.
Position appropriate solutions that address customer challenges, clearly articulating technical and commercial value.
Drive sales opportunities through the full lifecycle, including discovery, quoting, technical and commercial negotiation, and award.
Coordinate and align internal teams, including engineering, manufacturing, and project management, to develop proposals and deliver solutions that meet customer requirements.
Actively walk customer sites to observe operations, identify potential manufacturing and automation opportunities, and propose value-added solutions.
Follow up consistently on technical and commercial discussions to move opportunities forward and maintain strong customer relationships.
Act as a trusted technical advisor to customer engineers by demonstrating a solid understanding of robotics, automation, and electromechanical systems.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate scope definition, timelines, and resource planning for awarded projects.
Support project execution by maintaining communication with customers and internal teams, helping to resolve technical issues and ensuring alignment with customer expectations.
Proactively look ahead to understand where customers are heading next in their automation and manufacturing strategies and position the company as a key partner in those plans.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of manufacturing processes, production environments, and relevant technologies to identify new application opportunities.
Contribute to business development initiatives by sharing market insights, customer feedback, and emerging trends with internal leadership.
Essential Skills
3-5+ years of experience in technical sales, applications engineering, or customer-facing engineering roles.
BS degree in Engineering, preferably Mechanical, Electrical, or a closely related discipline.
Proven experience in technical sales or sales engineering, with a focus on complex engineered solutions.
Strong background in robotics, automation, or electromechanical systems and their integration in manufacturing environments.
Experience working in manufacturing or production settings, with familiarity of how automated and robotic systems are deployed.
Ability to build trust and credibility with customer engineering teams through strong technical understanding and clear communication.
Demonstrated capability in account management, including managing multiple opportunities and customer relationships simultaneously.
Experience in business development, including identifying and qualifying new opportunities and driving them through to award.
Solid project management skills to coordinate internal teams and ensure successful execution of awarded work.
Comfort initiating and leading technical conversations at customer sites, including asking smart technical questions and identifying pain points.
Ability to manage the full sales cycle from discovery and solution positioning through quoting, negotiation, and closing.
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented mindset, with a track record of taking initiative rather than waiting for formal requests.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience in mechanical engineering, application engineering, or manufacturing engineering roles supporting customer solutions.
background in sales or applications engineering within robotics, automation, or advanced manufacturing environments.
Hands-on exposure to production processes that leverage robotic or automated systems.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including engineering, operations, and project management.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to translate customer challenges into practical, engineered solutions.
Ability to adapt quickly to evolving customer needs and emerging technologies in automation and manufacturing.
Work Environment
The role focuses on a mix of customer-facing field work and collaboration with internal technical teams. You will regularly visit customer sites, including manufacturing and production environments, to observe operations, engage directly with engineering teams, and identify opportunities for robotics, automation, and electromechanical solutions. Internally, you will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and project management teams in a collaborative setting to develop proposals and deliver projects. The position requires comfort in both office and shop-floor settings, frequent technical discussions, and a proactive, hands-on approach to understanding how automated and robotic systems are designed and implemented.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Westborough, MA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $148000.00 - $153000.00/yr.
Medical - Dental - Vision - Basic Life and AD&D Insurance - Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance - Voluntary Dependent Life and AD&D Insurance - Short-term Disability - Long-term Disability - 15 Paid Time Off Days - 2 Paid Personal Days - 9 Company Paid Holidays
Workplace Type
This is a fully remote position.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 29, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
