Sales Engineer jobs in Santa Maria, CA

Trust Automation

Trust Automation has over 30 years of experience in custom motors, linear drives, digital drives, and systems which meet the unique needs of its customers. Its product line includes motors, linear drives, digital drives, custom assemblies, and products to fit unique applications and ground-up system design and manufacturing solutions.  We design, build and support control and power management systems for the most demanding defense, semiconductor, industrial automation, and medical applications.

Trust Automation is an equal opportunity employer and committed to attracting, hiring, developing, and retaining a skilled, productive, and diverse workforce, personnel with competencies and experience related to the regional and State population.  Every employee has an “at-will” relationship with Trust Automation.  This means that employment with Trust Automation is at the mutual consent of the employer and the employee and is subject to termination by either party at will, with or without cause or advance notice.

Job Summary

The Sales Engineer is responsible for supporting and understanding the complex technological products and services offered by Trust Automation while acting as the communication bridge, both internally and externally between engineering/technical information and the other parties involved.  The Sales Engineer must have extensive knowledge of the products’ parts, functions and must understand the scientific processes that make these products work to assist in technical support and trouble shooting.

The Sales Engineer should be specialized in technologically and scientifically advanced products and will use their experience, understanding and technical skills to explain the benefits of our products and services to potential customers and to compare our offerings against competitors'.

Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.

• Prepare and deliver technical presentations explaining products or services to customers and prospective customers.
• Work with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and determine system requirements. Act as the Trust Automation engineering representative to the customer.
• Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements and provide sales support.
• Give presentations demonstrating the product or system technical aspects and how it will solve specific customer problems.
• Technical support and troubleshooting while supporting customer service and sales teams, may involve travel.
• Recommend improved products or systems to customers, showing how changes will lower costs or increase production.
• Respond to customer requests for quotes for typical requests, involved in and progress to responding to more complex quote requests.
• Interact with Sales Reps on quote and product information requests.
• Assist marketing group developing new technical data sheets and manuals, providing product technical information.
• Must be adept at completing other tasks related to sales and marketing, such as market research and new product development.
• Work with customers to understand technical requirements and collaborate with the engineering team to adjust products to meet customers’ specific needs.
• Work with research and development (R&D) to help identify and new products and opportunities.
• Develop ERP skills at the same level as customer service to add as a backup where necessary and to be able to support customer service where necessary.
• Support customer service team where necessary in technical areas for new product sales and RMA transactions.
• Qualify all RMA transactions, communicating with the customer where necessary to ensure we identify problems at customer site or recurring problems with Trust Automation products, whether at the design or manufacturing level. Interact with the RMA team, Quality, Mfg. Engineering and R&D teams where necessary to resolve issues.
• Ensure accurate, consistent and complete Customer Repair Reports are developed and sent to customers for all RMA activity.
• Working with the VP of Business Development, initially participate in and learn the forecasting process, working toward managing a portion of the product forecast/build plan.
• Support VP of Business Development, attending regular technical meetings including product development and escalation meetings. Report status to VP.
• Working with Engineering, Mfg. Engineering and Quality, manage customer product change via Product Change Notifications. (PCN).
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering or related field, or 5-9 years relevant experience
• General sales techniques
• Strong interpersonal skills for building relationships with clients and effectively communicating with members of the other internal teams.
• Must be able to listen to the customer’s requests and concerns, and then recommend solutions, possibly including customizing a product.
• Must be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations. 
• Must have a clear understanding of the technologically sophisticated products they sell in order to explain their advantages and answer questions.
• Ability to read and understand engineering drawings/specifications.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence, create data sheets, technical documentation and website content.

Physical Requirements

• Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person, on the telephone or virtually.
• Dexterity of hands, fingers, and wrist to operate a computer keyboard, calculator, or assemble/manufacture intricate items.
• Seeing to read a variety of materials.
• Sitting or standing for extended period of time.
• Physical agility to lift up to 50 pounds to shoulder height. Any items that weigh more than 50 pounds will require two or more people or a lifting device to move.
• Physical agility to lift, carry, push, or pull objects.

Pay/Salary Information

Pay scale for this position - $83,000.00- $103,00.00 annually