Bachelor's degree in Engineering (preferred fields include Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, Industrial, or Chemical).
5+ years of experience in automotive paintshop systems with focus on service, upgrades, or brownfield projects.
Experience in supporting service RFQs and aftermarket proposals for automotive OEM facilities.
Hands-on knowledge of operating paintshops and legacy equipment.
Strong cost estimation skills for service, retrofit, and brownfield scopes.
Responsibilities
Support automotive OEM and Tier 1 customers with technical and commercial proposals for paintshop modifications and refurbishments.
Lead technical reviews of service-related RFQs for upgrades and modifications in paintshops.
Analyze existing installations and operating conditions to define upgrade scope effectively.
Develop and finalize technical specifications for upgrade and service proposals, ensuring clarity on scope and requirements.
Prepare accurate cost estimates for service work, covering all potential costs and supplier engagements.
Act as a technical-commercial interface between various teams, ensuring alignment and collaboration.
Engage with customers during meetings and plant walkdowns to provide technical support and justification during negotiations.
Benefits
Opportunity to work on high-profile automotive projects.
Collaborative environment with cross-functional team support.
Engagement with cutting-edge technologies in the automotive sector.
Potential for professional growth and development in a specialized field.
Hands-on impact on customer satisfaction and project execution.
Full Job Description
Your Tasks:
The Sales Engineer - Automotive Paintshop Service & Upgrades is responsible for supporting automotive OEM and Tier 1 customers with technical and commercial proposals for paintshop modifications, upgrades, retrofits, and refurbishments. This role leads specification reviews for service-related RFQs, defines technically sound upgrade solutions, and develops accurate cost calculations for associated work on existing paint shop systems.
Service RFQ & Scope Review
Lead and support technical reviews of service-related RFQs for automotive paintshop upgrades, modifications, expansions, and refurbishments.
Analyze existing paintshop installations, as-built documentation, and operating conditions to define upgrade scope.
Interpret customer requirements related to performance improvements, capacity increases, quality enhancements, safety upgrades, and regulatory compliance.
Identify constraints associated with brownfield environments, including production continuity, space limitations, and phased implementation.
Specification Development & Finalization
Develop and finalize technical specifications for service and upgrade proposals, including:
Equipment retrofits and replacements
Process improvements and technology upgrades
Controls, automation, and software updates
Safety, environmental, and compliance-related modifications
Define assumptions, interfaces, exclusions, and responsibilities clearly for service scope.
Coordinate with service engineering, controls, electrical, and mechanical disciplines to ensure feasibility and alignment.
Cost Calculation & Commercial Support
Prepare cost estimates for service work, including equipment, engineering, installation, commissioning, production downtime, and aftermarket services.
Work with suppliers and internal service teams to obtain accurate pricing for parts, labor, and subcontracted work.
Cross-Functional & Service Collaboration
Act as the technical-commercial interface between Sales, Service Engineering, Project Management, Field Service, and Purchasing.
Support internal proposal reviews, technical risk assessments, and execution readiness checks.
Assist with technical handover from sales to execution, ensuring clarity on scope, assumptions, and constraints of live plant environments.
Customer Engagement & Site Support
Participate in customer meetings, plant walkdowns, and technical clarification discussions.
Support bid clarification and negotiation phases with technical justification and cost transparency.
Your Skills:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, Industrial, or Chemical preferred).
Experience
5+ years of experience in automotive paintshop systems, with a strong emphasis on service, upgrades, or brownfield projects.
Proven experience supporting service RFQs and aftermarket proposals for automotive OEM facilities.
Hands-on knowledge of operating paintshops and legacy equipment.
Technical Skills & Knowledge
Strong understanding of automotive paintshop processes and installed systems.
Experience with retrofits, control upgrades, safety upgrades, and refurbishment strategies.
Solid cost estimation skills for service, retrofit, and brownfield scopes.
Familiarity with global and regional codes and standards applicable to existing facilities.
Ability to interpret as-built drawings, OEM standards, and plant documentation.
Soft Skills & Competencies
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, particularly for constrained environments.
Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical customer stakeholders.
High attention to detail, especially around scope definition and risk management.
Ability to manage multiple service RFQs simultaneously in a time-sensitive environment.
Practical, solution-oriented mindset with strong customer focus.
