Sales Manager

Job Description

Company Description

American Electro Products has provided precision electroplating for mission critical applications since 1950. Based in Waterbury, Connecticut, we specialize in precious and base metal finishes, including gold, silver, rhodium, palladium, nickel, and tin, using barrel, reel-to-reel, selective, and vibratory plating methods. We are a Nadcap-accredited facility and an approved supplier to leading interconnect manufacturers, defense contractors, and OEMs in the electronics, aerospace, automotive, medical, and military markets.

As part of Sumco, alongside our sister facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Joliet, Illinois, we offer customers the combined capabilities and capacity of a multi-site plating group, backed by the resources of Acuity Group.

Position Summary

We are seeking a sales Manager to grow our customer base and deepen relationships with new and existing accounts. This hybrid role combines inside account management with outside sales, requiring regular travel to visit customers, prospects, and industry events. You'll be the key link between our customers and our plating, engineering, and quality teams. You'll also support marketing efforts that raise our visibility in the markets we serve.

Key Responsibilities

Account Management (Inside Sales)

•     Manage and grow a portfolio of accounts while prospecting new opportunities and customers

•     Identify opportunities to expand business with current customers, including cross-selling capabilities across Sumco facilities and Acuity Group

•     Prepare quotes and proposals in coordination with engineering and estimating, accounting for precious metal pricing, plating specifications, and volume

•     Maintain accurate records of account activity, pipeline, and forecasts

•     Monitor account health and proactively address risks to retention

Outside Sales & Business Development

•     Travel 30–75% to visit key accounts and prospects

•     Prospect and qualify new business in target markets, including interconnect/electronic connectors, aerospace, defense, medical devices, and automotive

•     Conduct plant visits and technical sales meetings with purchasing, engineering, and quality personnel

•     Represent the company at trade shows and industry events

•     Meet or exceed quarterly and annual sales targets

Customer Service

•     Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned customers on orders, lead times, and delivery while working with our customer service team

•     Work with production, quality, and shipping teams to resolve issues, including nonconformances and corrective action requests with our customer service team

•     Help new customers through onboarding, including first article, specification review, and quality documentation with our operations team

•     Relay customer feedback to internal teams to improve service and processes

Marketing Support

•     Collaborate on marketing initiatives, including website content, email campaigns, and LinkedIn

•     Help develop sales collateral, capability sheets, and case studies

•     Coordinate trade show participation and follow up on leads generated

•     Track competitor activity, pricing trends, and market developments

Qualifications

Required

•     2–5+ years of B2B sales experience in manufacturing, with a background in the interconnect and/or plating industries

•     Proven success in both account management and outside/field sales

•     Working knowledge of interconnect components (connectors, contacts, terminals, pins, and sockets) and the plating requirements that go with them

•     Ability to understand technical requirements, including engineering drawings and plating specifications (e.g., ASTM, MIL, AMS)

•     Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills

•     Experience using a CRM to manage pipeline and activity

•     Ability and willingness to travel 30–75%, including overnight stays

•     Valid driver's license and clean driving record

•     Self-motivated, organized, and comfortable working independently

•     Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field

Preferred

•     Direct experience selling electroplating or metal finishing services, particularly precious metal plating

•     Established relationships with interconnect manufacturers, stampers, and OEMs

•     Familiarity with reel-to-reel, selective, and barrel plating processes

•     Familiarity with aerospace and defense quality requirements (Nadcap, AS9100, ITAR)