Sales Engineer, Refining & Renewable Fuels

Every day, we get opportunities to make a positive impact – on our colleagues, partners, customers and society. Together, we’re pioneering the solutions of the future and unlocking the full potential of precious resources. Trusted to act on initiative, we challenge conventional thinking to develop world-leading technologies that inspire progress in vital areas, including energy, food, water and shipping.

As we push forward, the innovative, open spirit that fuels our 140-year-old start-up culture and rapid growth also drives our personal growth. So, as we shape a more resourceful, less wasteful world, we build our careers too.

About the job

We are seeking a Refining & Renewable Fuels Sales Engineer to drive the growth of Alfa Laval's welded heat exchanger portfolio across the North American refining and renewable fuels markets. This customer-facing role combines business development, technical consulting, and relationship management to help customers improve energy efficiency, increase production capacity, and optimize process performance.

Working closely with refinery operators, licensors, EPC firms, and engineering stakeholders, you will identify opportunities, influence technology selection, and support customers throughout the project lifecycle. You will also collaborate extensively with Alfa Laval's global refinery organization, including application specialists and product experts in Europe and North America, to deliver technical solutions and advance strategic customer opportunities.

Success in this role requires a commercially minded professional who can build trusted relationships, navigate complex sales cycles, and connect local customer needs with Alfa Laval's global expertise to drive sustainable business growth

This position is based in Houston, Texas, with travel throughout the United States and Canada.

As a part of the team, you will:

• Develop and execute growth strategies that expand Alfa Laval's presence within the refining and renewable fuels markets by identifying high-value opportunities, strengthening customer engagement, and supporting long-term business objectives.

• Build and manage strategic account plans that align customer priorities, market trends, and investment initiatives with Alfa Laval's technology portfolio and value proposition.

• Influence technology selection and project specifications by engaging customers, licensors, EPC firms, and engineering stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle, from early evaluation through implementation.

• Establish and maintain relationships with key decision-makers and technical influencers across refinery operations, corporate engineering, project development, consulting, and technology organizations.

• Create, qualify, and advance a healthy pipeline of capital equipment and lifecycle service opportunities by leveraging industry knowledge, market insights, and customer needs.

• Lead customer-facing interactions including site visits, technical workshops, process reviews, and executive presentations to identify challenges, uncover opportunities, and align solutions with customer objectives.

• Develop compelling technical and commercial proposals that address operational requirements, improve process performance, and demonstrate measurable business value.

• Serve as a trusted resource to customers by providing application expertise, performance evaluations, and recommendations that support efficiency, reliability, sustainability, and long-term operational success.

• Partner with application engineers, technical specialists, and global business teams to develop integrated solutions that address complex customer requirements and support successful project execution.

• Monitor industry developments, competitive activity, technology advancements, and market drivers to help guide commercial strategy, customer engagement, and opportunity prioritization.

• Capture and communicate the Voice of the Customer by sharing market feedback, emerging needs, and application insights that support continuous improvement, innovation, and portfolio development.

• Showcase customer success through reference installations, case studies, technical presentations, and industry engagement activities that strengthen Alfa Laval's market position and brand credibility.

• Collaborate effectively across a global matrix organization, aligning resources, expertise, and stakeholders to deliver exceptional customer experiences and sustainable business growth.

At Alfa Laval, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive and dynamic workplace that values diverse perspectives and experiences. While we typically welcome applicants from all locations, currently, we are prioritizing candidates who reside in the US or have an established presence in the area. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

What you know:

You have a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering preferred (or Mechanical Engineering with relevant refinery experience) and:

• Demonstrated experience supporting the refining, renewable fuels, petrochemical, industrial processing, or related sectors through engineering, technical sales, business development, consulting, application engineering, or customer-facing commercial roles.

• Working knowledge of refinery processes, production environments, and the operational, technical, and economic factors that influence customer priorities, project development, and investment decisions.

• Experience engaging with refinery operators, engineering contractors, licensors, technology providers, consultants, or other stakeholders involved in the planning, design, operation, or optimization of industrial facilities.

• Ability to establish credibility with both technical and business stakeholders by combining industry knowledge, sound judgement, and a customer-focused approach to problem solving.

• Demonstrated success identifying opportunities, navigating complex decision-making processes, and advancing projects from concept through implementation.

• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to facilitate productive discussions across multiple levels of an organization.

• Ability to translate technical capabilities and process improvements into clear business outcomes, including operational efficiency, reliability, sustainability, risk reduction, and financial value.

• Familiarity with heat transfer applications, process equipment, thermal systems, heat exchangers, or related process technologies is preferred.

• Proven ability to develop relationships, expand professional networks, and create opportunities through strategic customer engagement and industry participation.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, adapt to evolving customer needs, and maintain momentum within long-cycle sales and project environments.

• Experience collaborating across cross-functional teams and matrixed organizations to align resources, expertise, and stakeholders in support of customer and business objectives.

• Proficiency using CRM platforms, pipeline management tools, and sales planning processes to support opportunity management, forecasting, and data-driven decision making.

• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the United States and Canada, with occasional international travel, to support customer engagement, project development, industry events, and business growth initiatives; up to 50%.

We care about diversity, inclusion and equity in our recruitment processes. We also believe behavioral traits can provide important insights into a candidate's fit to a role. To help us achieve this we apply Pymetrics assessments, and upon application you will be invited to play the assessment games.

What’s in it for you?

Alfa Laval offers a competitive salary and full benefits package, including medical/dental/vision/life, 401(k) plan, and more. At Alfa Laval, we carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors to determine your total compensation package. We rely on market indicators to determine compensation and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to get it right. These considerations can cause your compensation to vary and will also be dependent on your location. The base salary for this role is typically $100,000 - $120,000.

Alfa Laval is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, or business need, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

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