Sales Application Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview:

The Sales Application Engineer (SAE) will play a crucial role in assisting the departments by refining the scope of work for ETO products and serving as a subject matter expert for relevant products. This position plays a crucial role in ensuring that technical products and solutions are effectively tailored to meet the specific needs of customers, ultimately driving sales and customer satisfaction. The Sales Application Engineer also collects voice of the customer feedback, leads and participates in customer presentations, and provides some technical support. The Sales Application Engineer combines technical knowledge with sales skills to provide solutions to customers’ needs. This position is instrumental in bridging the gap between the sales team and the Cart Segment, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration.

The position will be located in Wanzl North America’s Manufacturing Plant in Newton, NC.

Company and Opportunity Overview

WNA’s vision is to be a leading entrepreneurial player in terms of market share, agility, and game-changing solutions. WNA is a solution provider, creating value along the supply chain of our customers, from online purchase to their customers.

WNA is headquartered in the Charlotte Metro Area, North Carolina. With around 500 employees and ~$200M of sales, WNA focuses on the retail and distribution market segments with marquee customers such as Walmart, Target, and the majority of large grocers and retailers.

In addition to being the largest manufacturer of shopping carts in North America, WNA has three additional main product segments as well as a Service business, providing turnkey solutions for customer guidance (Access Systems), Shelving & Fixtures, and Material Handling products.

Access Solutions provides sophisticated customer guidance and loss prevention systems for major retailers. With German-engineered products and a strong installed base, this segment focuses on protecting existing market share while expanding into adjacent opportunities in smart retail, autonomous store technology, and digital integration.

Additionally, WNA offers a range of digital solutions integrated into our products, including advanced shopping cart containment systems, smart exit gate technology, and innovations for autonomous and semi-autonomous retail stores. We are continuously expanding and enhancing our digital offerings to meet evolving customer needs and drive industry advancement.

WNA is part of the Wanzl Group, headquartered in Germany, and has 12 plants in 8 countries, providing comprehensive, solutions-driven service and expert knowledge of local markets for customers across the globe through their 360&degree; service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support and guidance to the sales team, enabling them to effectively communicate product capabilities and benefits to customers.
• Support the sales team throughout the sales process, from lead generation to closing deals.
• Serve as the technical subject matter expert during customer interactions, providing detailed explanations and insights into our products and solutions. Includes technical demonstrations and presentations to potential clients.
• Assist in development and present technical proposals and solutions to customers, ensuring alignment with their needs and expectations. Includes ensuring that proposed solutions and customer specifications are feasible and align with the company’s capabilities.
• Act as a liaison between the Sales team, Product Managers, and the D&D department, and Manufacturing facilitating effective communication and collaboration.
• Participate in customer meetings, site visits, pre-install site surveys, and presentations to gather requirements and provide technical expertise.
• Assist in the development and review of technical documentation, including product specifications, drawings, and proposals.

• Develop CAD drawings for use in project proposals, permit submissions, and internal project pricing
• Review on-site products & provide design validation
• Assist with demonstration of technologies integrated with relevant products

• Stay updated on market needs, industry trends, technological advancements, and competitor products to provide valuable insights and recommendations.
• Attend trade shows, conferences, and other industry events to promote the company’s offerings.
• Provide technical training and support to the sales team

Required Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in a Sales Application Engineering role, preferably within the retail solutions industry.
• Strong technical background with the ability to understand and explain complex engineering concepts.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with customers and internal teams and the ability to explain technical information to non-technical stakeholders. Additionally, must demonstrate the ability to build and maintain relationships with clients and internal teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in technical documentation and proposal writing.
• Familiarity with D&D processes and new product development (NPD) is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing customer needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.

• Minimum five (5) years of related industry experience.
• Proficient in Solidworks and AutoCAD or related software programs. 
• Knowledge in Microsoft software suite
• Demonstrated project management and leadership ability

• Highly organized with excellent written and oral communication skills

• Experience capturing customer requirements and translating them into recommendations
• Strong technical aptitude and advanced problem-solving skills

• Exemplary customer service skills 

• Self-motivated, high initiative, self-directed

• Ability to travel up to 35% including occasional international travel