Sales Engineer Trainee - Industrial Pumps & Process Equipment

*Possible training locations for this role include but are not limited to Greensboro, NC; Richmond, VA; and Knoxville, TN.
 

About Tencarva: Founded in 1978, with roots dating back to 1926, Tencarva is a distributor, engineering and design partner, and authorized service center within the process equipment/flow control market. With 36 locations across 16 states, we provide end-to-end, whole-system solutions for over 60,000 customers across the industrial and municipal water/wastewater segments. Our service offerings include system analysis and design, applications engineering, custom fabrication of equipment packages, automation and controls, equipment repair, and thermal hard coatings. tencarva.com

Summary: Our Sales Engineer Trainees are assigned to one of our branches and train under established Sales Engineers for 9-18 months. In this role, the Trainee will assist the Sales Engineer team by performing application engineering and providing quotations for a wide variety of process pumping and liquid handling equipment. The SE Trainee will partner with Sales Engineers to investigate our customers' mechanical problems and systems failures, then recommend the proper equipment and design to provide a solution that aligns with the unique needs of our customers' operations - based on many variables, including flow rate, viscosity, temperature, pressure, pH, budget, etc. After a suitable period of training (typically 1+ year), the Trainee will be given the opportunity to take on his/her own territory.

The Sales Engineer role is field-based, consultative, and highly technical. While this is a sales position, the sale happens naturally as a result of our technical expertise, whole-system solutions, and time with our customers on their plant floors. The scope of the Sale Engineer role is extensive, as it encompasses duties and expertise of many plant stakeholders, including reliability engineer, process engineer, maintenance engineer, project manager/engineer, and even technical trainer. Every day, every customer, and every problem is unique, which requires creativity, adaptability, and tenacity/grit.

Tencarva Sales Engineers are allowed almost unlimited latitude for personal initiative and engineering imagination - as well as uncapped earning potential. It is a very entrepreneurial role, as the Sales Engineer is essentially the General Manger of his/her territory. Although success in the Sales Engineer role is measured by sales growth, margins, and profitability in the assigned territory/defined customer base, this is not a high-pressure sales environment. On the contrary, our customers rely on us as trusted advisors and business partners to help solve their problems by providing equipment packages, application recommendations, and whole-system design solutions. For nearly 50 years, Tencarva has been committed to fostering long-term relationships and providing a high-integrity, "white glove" customer experience to industrial and municipal markets all across the eastern US.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Call on personnel at every level of industrial and municipal operations, from technicians and operators to engineers, architects, managers, and even GMs. Provide process solutions and application advice on our extensive line of products and packages.
• Call on engineering firms who service our end-user customer base, conducting informational training sessions on our products and their application.
• Review blueprints, plans, PID drawings, and other customer documents to develop and prepare cost estimates or projected increases in production from the client’s use of proposed equipment or services.
• Draw up or propose changes in equipment, processes, or use of materials, resulting in cost reduction or improvement in operations.
• Establish long-term relationships with our customers by gaining their trust and confidence through the proper application of our products.
• Provide technical services to clients relating to the use, operation, and maintenance of equipment.
• Provide technical training to our customers' employees.
• Attend manufacturer training sessions for products represented
• Proactive planning and execution of sales calls/customer visits
• Maintain an accurate forecast of your business potentials with your customers and the manufacturers we represent
• Territory planning and overall business strategy planning
• Grow territory by increasing penetration of existing accounts and developing new accounts.

Compensation:

Competitive pay as Trainee. Once Trainee receives a sales territory, the compensation opportunities are significantly higher at Tencarva than in a classical Engineering role with a manufacturer or engineering firm. 

Benefits Include:

• Uncapped Commissions
• Paid Time Off, including 10 holidays
• Annual Incentive Plan
• Health Insurance, including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life
• 401(k) & Profit Sharing
• Employee Assistance Program

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree from a 4-year college or university; strong preference for Engineering, particularly classical Engineering disciplines such as Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Chemical, etc. Civil Engineering and Construction are also relevant for our business. Please note: IT and Computer related Engineering degrees are not relevant for this role.
 

Preferred Qualifications:

• previous Sales and/or Service experience
• hands-on mechanical work experience and/or hobbies
• coop experience in an industrial plant environment, preferably in a Reliability Engineer role or similar
• practical knowledge of pumps and pumping systems (not just theoretical)
• genuine interest in Technical Sales
• technical education in fluid dynamics/thermodynamics
• ability to relocate is a plus but not required

The duties, responsibilities, and activities described above are not exhaustive and may be subject to change. Additionally, please note that the job title for this posting is designed to be descriptive and may not reflect the official title used internally for job classification purposes.

Tencarva Machinery Company, LLC, is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.