Sales Engineer
Automate your job search with Sonara.
Submit 10x as many applications with less effort than one manual application.1
Reclaim your time by letting our AI handle the grunt work of job searching.
We continuously scan millions of openings to find your top matches.
Overview
Job Description
Technical Sales Engineer – Steam & Hydronics
Chicago, IL (Bolingbrook office / field-based Chicagoland) | HVAC – Steam & Hydronics / Manufacturers' Rep | Monday–Friday | Day Shift
Compensation: $70,000 – $110,000 base + uncapped commission
Employment: Full-Time / Direct Hire
About the Opportunity
A well-established manufacturers' rep firm with 70+ years in steam and hydronic heating is building out its Chicago market presence and needs its first senior technical hire. The company operates a large stocking warehouse in the western suburbs, carries 30+ manufacturer lines, and has the infrastructure — same-day parts capability, AI-assisted quoting tools, and hands-on leadership support — to compete and win. This is a greenfield role with a direct path to running the Chicago office.
What You'll Do
- Serve as the technical lead for the Chicago market — the go-to resource when a steam, hydronic, or boiler-room application gets complicated
- Work with consulting engineers to get the company's manufacturer lines specified on new construction and retrofit projects
- Support mechanical contractors from bid through submittal, installation, and service calls
- Walk job sites and meet customers in the field — mechanical rooms, contractor offices, engineering firms
- Run lunch-and-learns and technical presentations to close customer knowledge gaps and build the brand
- Partner with local distributors to drive shared account growth and move product
- Quote parts and equipment packages — from same-day replacement parts to multi-month capital projects — using AI-assisted quoting tools
- Build lasting customer relationships through shared experiences and consistent follow-through
- Help recruit, onboard, and mentor Chicago team members as the office grows, with a defined path to leading it
What You'll Need
- 5+ years in commercial HVAC or mechanical systems — contractor, rep firm, engineering firm, or service company
- Hands-on knowledge of boiler rooms: boilers, steam traps, steam specialties, pumps, valves, condensate and boiler-feed systems, and venting
- Credibility with consulting engineers who specify and mechanical contractors who buy and install
- Demonstrated track record of building customer relationships and closing business
- Comfort with a compensation structure that transitions from base plus commission toward a higher-commission model as your book grows
- Valid driver's license and willingness to travel daily across the Chicagoland market
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field preferred
- Existing Chicago-area relationships with engineering firms, mechanical contractors, or distributors preferred
- Prior experience mentoring, managing, or leading a team is a plus
Why This Role
You are stepping into a market that already has momentum, backed by a company with seven decades of manufacturer relationships and the infrastructure to support you from day one — with uncapped earnings tied directly to what you generate and a clear path to running the Chicago office.
Automate your job search with Sonara.
Submit 10x as many applications with less effort than one manual application.
