Inside Sales Engineer

LJ Star is currently seeking an Inside Sales/Applications Engineer. Reporting to the President, this role will be a key member of the LJ Star Industrial Sales Team led by the Director of Business Development.  The Inside Sales/Applications Engineer is responsible for sales, new business development, and being the technical expert for Industrial LJ Star products and applications. Activities include direct selling and quoting, developing relationships with strategic customers, educating/advising customers on materials and application needs, and providing technical guidance to the internal LJ Star team.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities listed below.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Prepare technical presentations, proposals, and responses to RFPs/RFQs. Collaborate cross-functionally with supply chain, operations and engineering teams to ensure technical accuracy, feasibility, and competitiveness. Support bid/no-bid decisions through technical and financial risk assessments and value articulation.
• Lead customer meetings to gather requirements and communicate product capabilities. Translate customer needs into product configurations. Prepare and present technical requirements plan to company teams to ensure complete plan is feasible within cost, time and environmental constraints.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for assigned accounts or programs. Foster long-term relationships with Sales Channel.
• Work with Engineering and Marketing to maintain product data sheets and tracks technical engagement activities. Provide internal reporting on project status, sales pipeline progression, and customer feedback.
• Prepare periodic sales funnel, weekly sales reports, etc.
• Establish relationships with sales and customers to better understand solutions and services potential.
• Provide expert knowledge to Inside Sales to facilitate quoting, order entry, and order expediting.
• Create and present technical and commercial training for internal and external customers.
• Work with prospective customers to move projects through the sales cycle to conclusion.
• Technical Consulting: act as the primary technical resource for customers, leveraging your expertise to understand client application, material compatibility, and process requirements and propose customized product and application solutions.
• Account Nurturing: build and nurture strong, long-term relationships with key engineering contacts and purchasing teams.
• Promote and ensure efficient collaboration within the organization and among department team members.

Qualifications and Skills

• Strong customer engagement and problem-solving skills.
• Effective at synthesizing technical and business perspectives and demonstrated ability to articulate complex technical products and value propositions clearly and persuasively to a diverse audience for informed decision making.
• Knowledge of fluid process engineering and related codes and standards.
• Ability to effectively communicate and present to engineers and project managers.
• Knowledge of CRM tools, technical modeling software and proficiency of reading and interpreting technical drawings and schematics.
• 3+ years of experience in technical sales, application engineering, or a customer-facing technical role.
• Knowledge of process piping and valves preferred
• Intermediate/advanced computer skills, specifically with Microsoft Office and Autodesk
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent