Senior Sales Engineer – Aerospace / Aviation
📍 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana (Onsite)
✈️ Travel: 30–40% (North America + occasional international)
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
📈 Seniority Level: Mid-Senior
🎓 Education: Bachelor’s Degree (Engineering or related)
🏭 Industry: Aerospace / Aviation / Defense
💰 Compensation
Competitive base salary
Full benefits package
Relocation support available for the right candidate
🚀 Overview
A leading engineering and test systems organization is seeking a Senior Sales Engineer to drive growth within the aviation and defense sector.
This role combines technical expertise and commercial ownership, managing key OEM relationships while developing new business opportunities across North America.
🔧 Key Responsibilities
Customer & Account Management
Serve as the primary point of contact for key customers
Build and maintain long-term relationships with OEMs and end-users
Understand customer needs and position tailored technical solutions
Business Development
Identify and develop new customers and opportunities
Build and manage a robust sales pipeline
Represent the business at:
Trade fairs
Industry events
Technical forums
Sales Strategy & Execution
Execute sales strategies to grow:
Revenue
Market share
Margins
Influence customers early in the buying cycle to position solutions as preferred
Technical & Commercial Support
Lead and coordinate the quotation and proposal process
Develop cost estimates considering:
Technical requirements
Commercial factors
Legal considerations
Support contract negotiations and order execution
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Act as the bridge between:
Customers
Engineering
Product teams
Collaborate with global teams to develop solutions and concepts
Ensure smooth handover to project delivery teams
✅ Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in:
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechatronics
Or related field (or equivalent experience)
6+ years of technical sales experience
Proven experience managing large OEM accounts and developing new business
Must have experience in defense and/or aerospace industry
Strong ability to:
Understand complex technical systems
Translate customer needs into solutions
Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills
⭐ Alternative Background (Also Considered)
4+ years of hands-on engineering or testing experience
Strong preference for candidates with aviation or helicopter-related technical experience
🧠 Preferred Skills
Knowledge of aviation component testing
Experience with:
System development
Simulation
Controls or testing systems
Experience selling capital equipment / high-value systems
Familiarity with:
Export control (ITAR, EAR)
Government contracts (FAR, DFARS)
German language skills (nice to have)
🎯 Ideal Candidate
Strong technical sales professional with aerospace/defense exposure
Comfortable owning full sales lifecycle from pipeline to close
Able to engage both engineering and executive stakeholders
Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to work independently
Passion for aviation and complex engineered systems
📊 Key Success Factors
Ability to grow and manage strategic OEM relationships
Strong commercial acumen with technical depth
Proven success in long-cycle, high-value sales environments
Willingness to travel and build customer presence
📝 Interview Process
Recruiter screening
Technical and commercial interviews
Final stakeholder discussions