Office Sales Engineer - Chicago

Founded in 1925, Festo Corporation is the leading worldwide supplier of automation technology and the performance leader in industrial training and education programs.  For many years Festo has been providing impetus for factory automation and offers a wide product and service portfolio – from individual components to complex customized solutions and system. As a family-owned company, we act from a holistic perspective. We take responsibility for our actions globally and locally, we want to contribute to the quality of life and conservation of resources where we operate with new technologies, knowledge and education.

At Festo, we hire people who continuously live our five core Values:

• We are Ambitious
• We are Determined
• We are Visionary
• We Value Each Other
• We are Dependable

Summary: 

The Office-Based Sales Engineer (OSE) is a district-based sales role focused on driving customer engagement, qualifying new opportunities, and supporting market growth. Positioned within a geographic district and reporting directly to the District Sales Manager (DSM), the OSE is responsible for systematically reviewing and acting upon daily lead sources, managing selected target accounts, and qualifying unassigned accounts to support channel strategy decisions. This role is designed to expand Festo’s reach, improve responsiveness to inbound opportunities, and develop early-stage customer relationships into sustainable business opportunities.

Travel Expectation: Primarily office-based with limited local travel (≤20%)

Duties of this Job Include:

1. Lead Management & Opportunity Qualification

• Review and contact daily leads from unassigned quotes, CAD leads, call center logs, and other lead-generating reports.
• Qualify leads based on market potential, application fit, and long-term growth opportunity.
• Document lead outcomes in CRM and provide recommendations for follow-up actions or channel assignment.

2. Target Account Development

• Serve as the primary sales contact for 3–5 assigned target accounts in the local region.
• Focus on accounts with high market share potential but minimal daily transactional demand.
• Develop account plans to build relationships, uncover opportunities, and increase Festo share of wallet.

3. District Account Qualification

• Act as the general sales contact for unqualified accounts within the district.
• Conduct initial discovery, assess growth potential, and recommend channel strategy (direct sales vs. distribution) to the DSM.
• Ensure qualified opportunities are transitioned to the appropriate sales channel for long-term management.

4. Collaboration with District & Channels

• Work closely with the DSM to align opportunity qualification with district growth strategies.
• Provide feedback to Front Line Managers, Distribution Managers, and Industry Segment Managers regarding market insights and account potential.
• Support distributor engagement by identifying accounts suited for indirect sales coverage.

5. Customer Engagement & Responsiveness

• Ensure timely follow-up and professional engagement with all assigned leads and accounts.
• Build relationships with technical and commercial contacts to position Festo as a trusted automation partner.
• Escalate account needs, service issues, or strategic opportunities to the DSM for coordination.

Performance Metrics:

• Timely and effective qualification of leads and unassigned accounts. 

• Conversion of qualified leads into opportunities and revenue. 

• Growth and retention within assigned target accounts. 

• Accuracy and completeness of CRM documentation. 

• Contribution to district sales growth and channel strategy execution. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Experience in technical sales, inside sales, or customer support within industrial automation or related fields.
• Strong ability to qualify opportunities and assess account potential.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for engaging with technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Proficiency with CRM tools, reporting systems, and lead management processes.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple lead sources simultaneously.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with DSMs, Sales Engineers, and channel partners.

The annual base pay range for this role is between $65,000 -$70,000.

Benefits: Festo Corporation offers a robust benefits package, which is designed to help employees and their dependents stay healthy, feel secure and maintain a work/life balance. This is just one way we strive to provide employees with a rewarding workplace. As an effort to keep pace with healthcare trends, Festo Corporation is committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package to its employees which includes...Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Programs, Short-term and Long-term disability, 401k, Pet Insurance, Paid Holidays, Paid time off, Educational assistance and many more.

Festo is an equal opportunity employer.  We believe that the best way to attract and retain a diverse workforce is to encourage a culture of inclusion within our organization.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.