Lead Sales Engineer

Location: East Windsor, NJ

Employment Status: Full-Time

Compensation: $85,000 - $110,000 Annually Salary + Bonus

Travel: Overnight travel may be required up to 25% on short term basis for customer meetings.

The Opportunity

The Lead Sales Engineer plays a critical role in driving business growth for Thermo Systems. This individual combines technical expertise with strong communication and leadership skills to deliver tailored solutions that meet customer needs while ensuring alignment with company standards and strategies with no oversight. Serving as a bridge between client requirements and engineering solutions, the Lead Sales Engineer ensures projects are scoped accurately, proposed effectively, and transitioned smoothly to execution all at an expert level. This individual coordinates effectively with the Sales Leads and supports the company's goals and objectives.

Core Responsibilities:

Client Engagement & Relationship Management:

• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with clients, trade partners, vendors, and subcontractors.
• Actively listen to client needs and advocates for customer success throughout the sales cycle.
• Ensure sales strategies align with customer standards, procedures, and compliance requirements.
• Represent the company at trade shows, networking events, and industry forums.
• Aid solution-selling efforts by developing strategies tailored to customer needs.

Technical Knowledge, Communication, & Leadership:

• Interpret scopes, drawings, specifications, and instrument documentation to develop accurate solutions.
• Lead internal estimate reviews, pre-bid meetings, and sales related project meetings.
• Participate in sales calls, site walk-throughs, and internal meetings as required.
• Collaborate with Operations to ensure proposals are technically feasible and aligned with company capabilities.
• Communicate technical solutions effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay current on control systems technologies, market trends, and competitor offerings.

Sales Process & Opportunity Management:

• Develop full-scope technical estimates and author technical proposals.
• Contribute to internal processes used by the Technical Sales team to increase efficiency and practices.
• Offer value engineering solutions that provide clients with optimal outcomes while following the sales strategy.

Risk Mitigation & Project Handoff:

• Assess risks and develop mitigation strategies during proposal and project pursuit stages.
• Implement situational awareness by aiding sales leads in client negotiations.
• Ensure seamless transition of awarded projects to execution teams through clear documentation and handoff tasks.
• Manage the full proposal lifecycle, from opportunity qualification through contract review and submission.
• Coordinate and generate all necessary documentation including estimates, proposals, and presentations.
• Oversee vendor and subcontractor engagement during the bidding process.
• Level subcontractor proposals and descope on risk items and clarifications.
• Maintain strong attention to detail and prioritize effectively across multiple pursuits.
• Possess an in-depth understanding of Thermo Systems capabilities, offerings, and differentiation and ability to present this material to customers and partners
• Clearly detail customer needs from RFP documentation and effectively develop scope requirements and ability to coach this material to internal team members and subcontractors/vendors.

Professionalism & Ethics:

• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and discretion in all business dealings.
• Uphold confidentiality of sensitive client and company information.
• Serve as a role model for ethical conduct and customer advocacy within the sales team.

Impact of the Role:

• Expands Thermo Systems' solution selling presence by leading the technical portion of bids.
• Leads subcontractor/vendor relationships to build partnerships.
• Works closely with Electrical Contractors on preconstruction to assure SOW and pricing are accurate.
• Continually learns and shares knowledge on industry trends, engineering designs, and customer standards.
• Builds trust and credibility with trade partners, clients, and engineers, creating opportunities for repeat business.
• Supports sales team by providing full proposals and estimates for submission with no oversight.
• Fosters a feedback-driven culture by collaborating with Operations, design engineers, field teams, and internal team members.
• Guides and mentors Sales Engineers and other team members.
• Handles multiple bids and multitasks, enabling the team to pursue key sales opportunities.
• Offers technical reference to Operations team during project execution.

What We're Looking For

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor of Science; Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or other applicable curriculum combined with relevant technical experience.
• Typically, 2-5 years in experience in sales engineering, technical sales, industrial automation or relevant field
• Strong knowledge of industrial automation technologies, instrumentation, and system integration.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM tools, and drawing/specification review software.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize across multiple opportunities.
• Attention to detail and technical requirements.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, creativity, and presentation skills.
• Listens closely and is coachable.
• Ability and desire to mentor junior team members
• Acquire and maintain an in-depth understanding of Thermo Systems capabilities, offerings, and differentiation.
• Expert proficiency of industrial automation architectures and vendor offerings (hardware, software, panels, instruments, valves/final control elements, networking, drawings, specifications, P&IDs, Sequence of Operations (SOOs)/process narratives).
• Networks across the company.
• Ability to coordinate and communicate with senior management
• Evaluates and adapts to the strengths and shortcomings of others.
• Committed to further developing technical abilities and leadership skills
• Demonstrated negotiation and problem-solving skills.

What You'll Get

• Competitive compensation with annual bonus opportunity
• 401(k) with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with low-cost options
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement and professional credential support
• In-house and external technical training opportunities
• Exposure to complex, high-impact automation projects
• A collaborative culture built on integrity, accountability, and teamwork
• Learn more at www.thermosystems.com

Work Environment & Physical Requirements The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity Thermo Systems provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status.

Disclaimer This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.