Sales Engineer Manager Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Sales Engineer

Job Description

The Sales Engineer drives new business and revenue growth by selling engineered manufacturing solutions to automotive, appliance, and related manufacturing companies across North America. This role combines technical engineering expertise with consultative sales skills to identify opportunities, present manufacturing capabilities, and build long-term customer relationships. The position requires frequent regional travel to visit OEMs and manufacturers, as well as remote work to manage the sales pipeline and conduct business development outreach.

Responsibilities

• Sell engineered products and manufacturing solutions to automotive, appliance, and related manufacturing companies within the assigned territory.
• Travel regionally to surrounding states and North American manufacturing hubs to visit OEMs, suppliers, and manufacturing facilities and identify new business opportunities.
• Drive new business development and grow sales revenue by prospecting, qualifying leads, and converting opportunities into long-term accounts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with OEMs, suppliers, and manufacturing companies, focusing on purchasing, engineering, and manufacturing decision-makers.
• Manage a structured sales pipeline, track opportunities, and generate RFQs for mold and CNC machining projects.
• Review engineering drawings, blueprints, and technical specifications to understand customer requirements and align them with manufacturing capabilities.
• Present manufacturing capabilities, tooling options, and technical solutions to customers in a clear and compelling manner.
• Collaborate closely with internal engineering, quoting, and project execution teams to develop competitive proposals and ensure successful project delivery.
• Lead technical sales conversations, including discussions around CNC machining, injection molds, tooling, and precision manufacturing processes.
• Conduct cold calls and schedule meetings with target accounts to expand the customer base in automotive, electronic, and appliance industries.
• Leverage existing industry connections and relationships to open doors, secure meetings, and accelerate business development activities.
• Develop new accounts from initial prospecting through closing, including needs analysis, solution presentation, negotiation, and follow-up.
• Maintain regular communication with customers to strengthen long-term relationships and identify additional opportunities for growth.
• Work independently in a startup environment, taking ownership of territory development and sales strategy with limited local infrastructure.
• Provide feedback from customers to internal teams to support continuous improvement of manufacturing offerings and service levels.

Essential Skills

• 5–10 years of relevant experience in technical sales, business development, account management, or commercial roles within CNC machining, injection molds, tooling, precision manufacturing, or closely related industries.
• Minimum 2 years of engineering experience in the automotive or appliance sectors, ideally transitioning from engineering into sales engineering.
• Proven track record of selling engineered products and technical solutions in manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, including tooling, machining, RFQ development, quoting, and customer technical requirements.
• Ability to read, interpret, and discuss blueprints, 2D/3D CAD drawings, and technical specifications with engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Demonstrated success in technical sales, product sales, and sales engineering, with the ability to bridge engineering concepts and commercial value.
• Experience managing a sales pipeline and generating RFQs for mold and CNC machining projects.
• Excellent prospecting skills, including comfort with cold calling and setting meetings with new potential customers.
• Strong existing relationships with purchasing managers, sourcing specialists, tooling engineers, and other decision-makers within the manufacturing sector.
• Ability to develop new accounts, build customer relationships, and drive opportunities from initial prospecting through closing.
• Self-motivated, resilient, and comfortable working in a greenfield or startup environment with limited existing local infrastructure.
• Willingness and ability to travel regionally up to approximately 50%–70% of the time as business needs require.
• Effective communication skills to present technical manufacturing capabilities and solutions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in engineering roles within automotive and appliance industries prior to moving into sales engineering.
• Experience in outside sales within engineering-related roles, including technical sales and product sales.
• Business development experience targeting OEMs, suppliers, and manufacturing companies in automotive, electronics, and appliance markets.
• Sales management exposure, including territory planning, account strategy, and revenue growth initiatives.
• Ability to collaborate with internal quoting and project execution teams to ensure accurate proposals and successful project delivery.
• Comfort operating in a startup environment, including adaptability, resourcefulness, and a proactive approach to building local market presence.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to maintain long-term partnerships and become a trusted advisor to customers.
• Organizational and time-management skills to balance travel, remote work, prospecting, and account management activities.

Work Environment

This role operates in a dynamic startup setting with the backing of a large, established manufacturing operation. The position involves frequent regional travel to manufacturing OEMs, suppliers, and production facilities to conduct in-person meetings, plant visits, and technical sales presentations. When not traveling, the Sales Engineer works from home, focusing on cold calling, business development outreach, pipeline management, and virtual meetings. The company is in a growth phase, with facility expansion and new production capacity planned over the coming years, offering significant room for professional growth and increased responsibility. The environment values initiative, independence, and collaboration across engineering, quoting, and project execution teams, and supports a mix of field-based and remote work.

This is a Permanent position based out of Louisville, KY.

The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $120000.00/yr.

Medical - if single, 100% of premiums paid for - if adding on family member, candidates medical is paid up to 75%, any additional would be 50% paid Dental and Vision - 100% paid for 1 week of sick pay, use or lose each year PTO tiered United Healthcare - Provider 401k - 4% match "first year 33% vested, scond year 66% vested, third years 100% vested Mileage reimbursement Computer and equiptment given

This is a hybrid position in Louisville,KY.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 7, 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 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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.