Sales Engineer

HIROTEC AMERICA · Auburn Hills, MI

Base: Not disclosed
OTE: Not disclosed
Posted: 2mo ago

Still open · checked 2h agoon HIROTEC AMERICA's careers page

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The job

What you'd do: Support senior sales staff by helping existing automotive customers with project specs, proposals, and timelines, and by presenting the company's tooling and engineering capabilities. You'll also help find new customers, and you'll travel domestically and internationally.
Who you'd sell to: Still reading the posting. Check back within the hour.
Where deals come from: Mostly handed to you: inbound leads or a set list of customers.

The Braun Read

Ask hard questions

Too much is left unsaid. Make them answer before you invest.

Pay: No pay listed at all.
Transparency: Says nothing about quota, attainment, deal size, territory or sales cycle.
Time on market: Open 69 days. Ask why it's been hard to fill.
Company hiring: This is their only open sales role.

Red lights

None spotted.

Green lights

SDR or inbound support. You won't be building all of your own pipeline from zero.

Based only on what the posting says. Lights are a starting point for your first call, not a final judgment.

Questions to ask on the first call

Built from what this posting leaves out. How they answer tells you as much as what they say.

1.
What percentage of fully ramped reps hit quota last year?
OTE is what you could earn. This is how likely you are to earn it.
2.
What are the base and the OTE for this role?
No point investing hours before you know the number.
3.
What's the annual quota, and how was it set?
A quota built from real data is a target. Otherwise it's a hope.
4.
How long is ramp, and what's the quota during it?
Full quota on day one means you start behind.
5.
Is the territory new or existing? Who had it before?
An existing book is a head start. Greenfield means building from zero.
6.
Why is this role open? Did someone leave, or is it new?
New headcount is growth. A replacement means someone left. Ask why.

› When the offer comes

Save these for later. They land better once they've said yes to you.

1.
Can I see the full comp plan in writing, including clawbacks and accelerators?
What's in writing is what gets paid. Read it before you sign.
2.
Can I see the actual comp distribution for the team last year, not just the OTE?
The spread shows what most reps really take home. OTE is just the target.
3.
I'd be walking away from earned commission to join. Is there room for a sign-on bonus to help cover that?
Leaving money behind is a fair reason to ask. The worst answer is no.

Josh's top five questions for any sales interview →

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Full posting

HIROTEC America is more than just a global industry leader with worldwide sales in excess of 1.5 billion dollars and 32 facilities in 8 countries. HIROTEC is a company that is constantly changing and growing with its community. We believe there is always room for advancement in every aspect of a business. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it, improve it. HIROTEC America is expanding and seeking a motivated Sales Engineer to join our growing team. In this role, you will support the development, maintenance, and expansion of client relationships across existing accounts. Working closely with our Senior Sales Account Executives, you will assist in providing market insight and expertise related to automotive tooling and engineering services. Key Responsibilities: - Support the communication of project specifications and client expectations through meetings, documentation, and our work order system. - Assist Account Executives in reviewing project proposals and determining estimated timelines for completion. - Participate in customer project line‑ups and collaborate with the Estimating team to clarify proposal requirements. - Help identify, create, and cultivate new and existing customer opportunities. - Gather and document customer satisfaction feedback. - Develop and deliver professional presentations on HIROTEC America, the HIROTEC Group, and our capabilities. - Contribute to marketing activities, including website content, media, and general public relations efforts. - Collaborate closely with internal teams including Engineering, Manufacturing, Design, Estimating, Project Management, Accounting, R&D, and Training. Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Business. - Knowledge of automation and manufacturing applications preferred. - Strong written and verbal communication skills, along with excellent presentation and computer skills. - Willingness to travel (domestically and internationally), work weekends as needed, and participate in customer entertainment during and outside business hours.

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