Sales Engineer - Hydraulic SystemsThe hydraulic sales engineer serves as a critical link between customers, sales, and engineering teams, supporting the development and delivery of technical solutions for hydraulic applications. This is a highly customer-facing role that combines technical expertise with sales support and business development, requiring strong communication skills and the ability to understand customer needs and translate them into effective solutions. The ideal candidate enjoys working directly with customers, supporting sales growth, and influencing technical decisions.
Responsibilities- Support sales team in developing and growing customer accounts
- Serve as a technical resource during customer engagements and solution development
- Work directly with customers to understand application requirements
- Recommend hydraulic system solutions aligned with customer needs
- Provide technical support for quoting, pricing, and proposal development
- Review proposals for technical accuracy and completeness
- Deliver technical presentations and product training
- Support troubleshooting and resolution of customer issues
- Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure successful application execution
- Build and maintain strong customer relationships
- Travel to customer sites as needed (~20% domestic travel)
Requirements- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- 5+ years of experience in application engineering, sales engineering, or similar roles
- Strong hydraulics experience REQUIRED (components + system applications)
- Proven experience in customer-facing or sales-support roles
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to influence technical decisions and support customer relationships
- Strong problem-solving abilities and business awareness
Desired Attributes- Experience in construction, agriculture, mining, or off-highway equipment industries
- Experience supporting OEM customers
- CRM experience (Salesforce or similar)
- CAD experience (SolidWorks preferred)
- Familiarity with ISO9001 or quality systems
Additional Details- Hybrid work environment based in the greater Chicago area
- Candidates should be located near a major airport to support travel requirements
- Primarily domestic travel with potential for occasional international collaboration
- Flexible work schedule with coordination required to support global teams
Compensation & Benefits- Competitive base salary ($100,000 - $150,000), commensurate with experience
- Competitive salary
- Bonus opportunity for team and individual performance
- Insurance options include Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability plans
- Employer paid life insurance
- Health Savings option available with employer contribution
- Paid vacation, sick days, and holidays
- Monthly allowances for phone, car, home office use
- 401(k) match - 100% match for 4% salary
- Company credit for work expenses
