DFARS

Senior Sales Engineer – Aerospace & Aviation Systems

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

Your new job awaits.

Start the process →