Technical Business Development Manager

About Helander

Helander Metal Spinning Company has spun, hydroformed, and machined precision metal components since 1933. We are an AS9100 aerospace and defense manufacturer, about 50 people in Lombard, IL. We are a lean, cross-trained team with direct access to decision-makers and a tight connection to the production floor.

The Role

Responsible for growing business with new and existing customers for Helander’s metal spinning, hydroforming, and CNC machining capabilities. You will own the pipeline from first contact through technical qualification to a complete handoff to quoting. You will be the technical voice of HMS with customer engineers and buyers, and you will own our target accounts, marketing direction, and HubSpot. You report directly to the CEO.

What you will do

• Win new business with aerospace, defense, and industrial OEMs and other manufacturing environments: build the target-account plan, prospect outbound, and open doors with engineering and procurement contacts.
• Lead technical conversations with customer engineers and buyers: read prints, specifications, and tolerances, explain our capabilities, and give design-for-manufacturability input.
• Qualify inbound leads, RFQs, and trade-show contacts, and confirm feasibility, lead time, and certification requirements with Engineering, Quality, and Production before we commit.
• Hand qualified opportunities to quoting with complete part, quantity, delivery, and specification information, and build toward preparing complete quotes for CEO review.
• Own HubSpot and the CRM, and report pipeline, win/loss results, and prospecting activity to the CEO weekly.
• Own the business development marketing plan: account-based marketing, campaigns, trade shows, and our agency relationship, with support from the Chief of Staff on collateral and administration.
• Grow existing accounts in partnership with the CEO and our Customer Success Manager.

What you bring

• A self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• A proven track record of developing new business within OEMs and other manufacturing environments.
• Technical aptitude.
• Three or more years of B2B sales or business development experience in manufacturing, preferably selling precision metal components, contract manufacturing services, or other engineered products.
• The ability to read engineering prints and discuss tolerances at a working level, or a demonstrated ability to learn this quickly.
• CRM proficiency, working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel, and strong written and verbal communication.

Nice to have

• A background in engineering, manufacturing, sales engineering, or applications engineering, or a bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or marketing.
• Experience with RFQ-driven quoting.
• Aerospace, defense, or ITAR-controlled customer experience.
• Account-based marketing experience, and experience working with an outside marketing agency.
• HubSpot experience, and experience in an AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality system environment.

What we offer

• Pay: $125,000 to $145,000 per year, salaried (exempt).
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage beginning the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
• 401(k) plan with a company match, currently structured as dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% of eligible compensation and $0.50 on the dollar on the next 2%, subject to plan terms.
• Paid time off: 9 paid holidays, 5 personal/sick days, and 13 vacation days annually, plus one additional day per calendar year, up to 28 days.
• The chance to build a sales function from zero, with direct access to the CEO and real influence over strategy and customers.
• A small team, a hands-on manufacturing environment, and a leadership team that wants a technical seller who can learn our processes.
• On-site in Lombard, IL, with occasional travel for trade shows and customer visits.

Good to know

This position may require access to information subject to U.S. export-control regulations (ITAR / EAR). Candidates must meet the applicable eligibility requirements.

Helander Metal Spinning is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.