Now Hiring - Van der Graaf Inc - Professional Services Sales Engineer in Russellville, AR

Full description of the position

We are currently seeking an Sales Engineer to join our growing team. VDG (Van der Graaf) is a well-established industry leader in manufacturing drum motors for all type of belt conveyor applications. If you would like to join a dynamic team while improving your skills, then we would like to meet you! Position Summary: The Sales Engineer is responsible for driving business growth through consultative selling, technical application expertise, and product implementation within the meat & poultry processing industry. This role partners closely with customers to assess operational requirements, recommend optimized drum motor solutions, and support installations to ensure reliable, hygienic, and efficient performance. Acting as a technical authority and trusted advisor, the Sales Engineer bridges sales, engineering, and service functions while promoting VDG's value proposition, including reduced total cost of ownership, food safety compliance, and long-term equipment reliability. We offer a competitive salary, company paid benefits, 401(K) match-up, vacation/sick time and other perks. Check us out at [please apply online] Apply today! Responsibilities/Duties: Sales and Product Implementation: * Identify and Solicit Clients: Proactively identify, qualify, and pursue new business opportunities within meat or poultry processing facilities, OEMs, and system integrators. Develop and manage a robust sales pipeline aligned with strategic growth objectives. * Application Needs Analysis: Conduct detailed assessments of customer operations, conveyor systems, and processing environments to determine application requirements and recommend appropriate drum motor configurations. * Solution Development and Proposal Support: Prepare technical proposals, specifications, and quotations that align product capabilities with customer needs, operational constraints, and regulatory or hygiene standards. * Service and Repair Program Promotion: Promote the VDG service and repair program at the plant level by identifying preventative maintenance, refurbishment, and lifecycle service opportunities that improve equipment uptime and customer retention. * Customer Relationship Management: Establish and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including engineering, maintenance, operations, and procurement teams. Serve as a trusted advisor to ensure high customer satisfaction and long-term account development. Technical Expertise and Customer Support: * Product Presentations and Demonstrations: Deliver technical presentations and on-site demonstrations that clearly communicate product functionality, hygienic design, efficiency gains, and application-specific benefits with meat processing operations. * Application Engineering and Troubleshooting: Diagnose technical and application issues, recommend corrective actions, and collaborate with internal engineering, product management, and service teams to resolve customer challenges. * Implementation and Commissioning Support: Assist with product installation, commissioning, and validation to ensure equipment performance meets design intent and customer expectations. * Post-Implementation Consultation: Provide ongoing technical consultation after implementation, including performance reviews, optimization recommendations, and identification of upgrade or retrofit opportunities. * Internal Technical Collaboration: Act as a field-based technical resource, sharing application insights, customer feedback, and performance data with internal teams to support product improvement and innovation. Market and Industry Insight: * Plant-Level Surveys and Audits: Conduct site assessments to catalogue existing VDG drives, evaluate application performance, identify improvement opportunities, and recommend stockroom optimization and spare-parts standardization. * Industry Engagement: Represent the organization at trade shows, technical conferences, and industry events to promote products, build professional networks, and remain informed of emerging technologies, regulatory changes, and sector trends. * Market and Competitive Intelligence: Monitor competitor offerings, customer requirements, and industry developments to inform sales strategies, product positioning, and future development initiatives. * Reporting and Forecasting: Maintain accurate documentation of customer activity, application data, and sales opportunities to support forecasting, strategic planning, and management reporting. Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant technical experience. * Minimum 5 years of experience in technical sales, application engineering, field engineering, or product implementation within industrial manufacturing, automation, material handling, food processing, or related equipment-based industries. * Proven experience in technical or capital equipment sales, preferably within the food processing, industrial automation, or agricultural sectors. * Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, or automation systems, with the ability to analyze applications and recommend appropriate technical solutions. * Experience in food processing environments--particularly poultry, meat, or hygienic equipment applications--is strongly preferred. * Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into business value for customers. * Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and travel frequently within the assigned territory. * Good knowledge of drum motors, conveyor drives, or mechanical drive systems. Other: * Frequent travel required including overnights. * Occasional international travel for training, team meetings, or trade shows. About VDG VDG is the leader in the design and manufacturing of high-quality, premium- efficiency drum motors for all types of belt conveyor applications, from food processing, packaging, warehousing, postal, parcel, and baggage handling to ship loading, power generation, mining, and aggregate. The VDG Drum Motor is a one-component conveyor drive that has all drive components, including the electric motor, gear reducer, and bearings, enclosed inside the drive drum, increasing mechanical and electrical efficiency, optimizing space, and promoting operator safety. Manufacturing in-house in the USA and Canada for 40 years, using cutting-edge production technology and automation, and with continuous improvements through R&D, VDG ensures product quality, short lead-times, and after-sales service. VDG is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. Accommodation for candidates with disabilities will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. If such accommodation is required, applicants are requested to make their needs known in advance. Job Type: Full-time Benefits: * 401(k) matching * Dental insurance * Flexible spending account * Health insurance * Life insurance * Paid time off * Vision insurance Application Question(s): * Do you have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant technical experience? * How many years of experience do you have in technical sales, application engineering, field engineering, or product implementation within equipment-based industries (e.g., industrial manufacturing, automation, material handling, or food processing)? * Do you have direct experience selling or supporting technical or capital equipment? * Do you have hands-on experience working in food processing environments (e.g., poultry, meat, hygienic equipment applications)? * Do you have working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, or automation systems and the ability to recommend technical solutions based on customer applications? * Are you able and willing to travel frequently within your assigned territory, including overnight travel, with occasional international travel? * Do you have experience with drum motors, conveyor drives, or mechanical drive systems? Work Location: In person