Senior Sales EngineerOur client is a growing advanced aerospace automation and manufacturing technology company seeking a Senior Sales Engineer to support continued expansion across North American aerospace and advanced manufacturing markets. This is a newly created role for a customer-facing technical professional who can combine engineering knowledge, commercial judgment, and strong relationship-building skills to help develop and close complex engineered systems opportunities.This role is focused on consultative technical sales for advanced automation, tooling, robotics, and capital equipment solutions used in production environments. The right candidate will be comfortable working directly with customers to understand manufacturing challenges, define requirements, shape practical technical solutions, and partner with internal teams to develop proposals that are both competitive and executable.As the Senior Sales Engineer, you will serve as a technical lead during the business development and sales process.
You will work with customers, engineering, program management, supply chain, and commercial stakeholders to identify opportunities, develop solution concepts, support proposal strategy, and help convert customer needs into contracted business.You will play a key role in ensuring proposed solutions are clearly scoped, technically sound, commercially aligned, and ready for a smooth transition into program execution.Why This Role is EssentialOur client is expanding its presence in the North American aerospace and advanced manufacturing market. This role is central to that growth.The Senior Sales Engineer will help build customer relationships, uncover new opportunities, and position advanced automation and tooling solutions for complex production environments. This person will also help ensure that customer commitments are aligned with internal capabilities, cost assumptions, schedule expectations, and execution plans.This is a strong opportunity for someone who enjoys complex technical sales, customer discovery, proposal development, and long-cycle relationship building in aerospace or advanced manufacturing environments.BackgroundGreat candidates may come from:Aerospace tooling or automation companiesTechnical sales roles supporting robotics, automation, tooling, or capital equipmentApplications engineering or systems engineering roles with customer-facing responsibilityCustom machinery or factory automation companiesAerospace, defense, space, or advanced manufacturing environmentsCompanies selling complex engineered systems into production or manufacturing settingsThe best candidates will bring a combination of engineering knowledge, technical sales experience, proposal experience, customer-facing communication skills, and established relationships in relevant markets.What You'll DoDevelop and support new customer opportunities across aerospace, defense, space, and advanced manufacturing marketsBuild and maintain trusted relationships with engineering, operations, manufacturing, procurement, and leadership stakeholdersConduct customer discovery, site visits, production assessments, technical workshops, and requirements discussionsTranslate customer needs into clear technical requirements, solution concepts, and executable scopesLead or support technical solution development across robotics, tooling, controls, vision systems, factory integration, and related automation systemsPartner with engineering, program management, supply chain, and commercial teams to develop cost estimates, schedules, resource plans, assumptions, and risk profilesSupport RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, technical volumes, proposal responses, presentations, and customer reviewsContribute to capture strategy, proposal positioning, value propositions, and customer-facing technical messagingEvaluate technical feasibility, risks, assumptions, and tradeoffs during early opportunity developmentIdentify expansion opportunities, change proposals, and additional customer needsProvide technical continuity from early sales engagement into program kickoff and executionHelp ensure a clear handoff from sales to program delivery, including scope, assumptions, risks, and customer expectationsSupport continuous improvement of proposal tools, reusable solution concepts, cost models, and technical documentationSkills and CompetenciesRequiredBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, industrial engineering, or a related technical field preferred7+ years of experience in technical sales, sales engineering, applications engineering, systems engineering, business development, or program engineering for complex engineered systemsExperience with aerospace tooling, robotics, automation, capital equipment, custom machinery, or advanced manufacturing systemsDemonstrated ability to develop technical solutions for complex hardware/software systems in industrial or production environmentsAbility to translate customer requirements into technical concepts, system architectures, and executable scopesExperience working directly with customers to define requirements, present solutions, and support pre-contract discussionsStrong understanding of mechanical systems, controls, robotics, automated manufacturing, tooling, factory integration, or related technical domainsExperience with RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, proposal development, cost estimation, technical volumes, scope definition, or customer-facing technical documentationAbility to evaluate technical feasibility, risks, assumptions, and commercial impacts during early solution developmentStrong customer-facing communication, presentation, relationship-building, and follow-through skillsAbility to coordinate effectively across engineering, program management, commercial, supply chain, and manufacturing teamsComfort with regular domestic and international travelAbility to work onsite in the Greater Seattle area when not travelingCandidates must be able to meet applicable export-control eligibility requirementsDesiredEstablished relationships across aerospace, defense, space, or advanced manufacturing customersExperience supporting or closing large, complex capital equipment opportunitiesExperience with aerospace OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, space companies, defense contractors, or advanced manufacturing organizationsBackground in robotic drilling, fastening, inspection, assembly automation, precision tooling, or factory automationCAD proficiency, ideally with SolidWorks or CATIA, for concept development, layouts, and technical discussionsExperience with systems engineering principles, including requirements definition, interface management, and validation planningExperience with industrial automation safety standardsExperience with international programs, suppliers, or customer coordinationExperience helping build or expand a commercial function, market, or territoryFrench language skills are a plusCompensation and Incentive StructureThis is a competitive salaried opportunity.
Travel expenses are covered. A performance-based bonus structure tied to successful deal closure and revenue impact.Because this role supports market expansion, the person hired will help build long-term customer relationships, support successful deal closure, and contribute to revenue growth through high-value technical opportunities.What's In It for YouCompetitive compensation including salary of $170,000 to $185,000Newly created senior role with meaningful influence on market expansionOpportunity to support complex aerospace automation and advanced manufacturing solutionsAbility to work on high-value engineered systems rather than commodity productsHigh visibility with customers, leadership, engineering, program management, and commercial teamsStrong technical environment where customer needs, engineering capability, and business strategy intersectOpportunity to bring existing industry relationships into a role with long-term growth potentialComprehensive benefits packageRelocation may be considered for the right candidateRegular domestic and international travel to customer sites and industry opportunities