Technical Sales Engineer — Automation & Electronic Controls
💰 Base + Commission | 📍 Zelienople, PA | Full-Time
🏢 RitterTech / RSA, an MCE Company
Are you a technical sales professional with deep expertise in automation, electronic controls, or electromechanical systems who excels at understanding how customer equipment works and specifying products into machine designs?
As a Technical Sales Engineer for Ritter Tech/RSA, you will be a specialized technical partner — not a generalist — focused on electronic controls, automation, and electromechanical product offerings across Northern and Central Illinois and Indiana. You will manage an established book of approximately 50 to 60 customer accounts while actively building OEM relationships where products can be specified into machine designs, creating sustainable repeat demand. This is a role for someone who already understands the technical side deeply and is ready to apply that knowledge in a focused, high-value sales capacity.
If you have a strong controls or automation technical background and want to grow into or advance in a technical sales role, we would rather teach you the selling side than try to teach the technical depth.
Compensation & Benefits
We take care of our team with a full benefits package:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Company-paid life, AD&D, and short- and long-term disability insurance.
- 401(k) with a generous company match.
- Generous PTO and paid holidays.
- Tuition reimbursement — we invest in your development.
- Paid parental leave.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Voluntary benefit products.
What You'll Do
Drive Automation Product Growth
- Own the growth and performance of automation products including linear actuators, servo motors, gearboxes, PLCs, motion controllers, VFDs, and supporting electronic controls across your assigned territory.
- Build OEM relationships where products can be specified into machine and equipment designs — creating repeat purchase demand as those machines are built and sold.
- Drive growth through owned accounts and active collaboration with the local sales team across Northern and Central Illinois and Indiana.
- Develop and execute a growth plan and strategy for automation products in partnership with the Regional Sales Manager.
- Participate in sales calls across the assigned region, supporting both inside and outside sales teams with technical expertise.
Deliver Technical and Application Support
- Understand customer applications in depth and help specify the right products into equipment and machine designs.
- Develop electrical system designs and assist with cost estimating by working closely with the engineering team.
- Assist the sales team with value-added solution proposals and presentations tailored to each customer's specific application.
- Support electrical systems in the field as needed.
- Develop technical product and solution sales training in collaboration with Regional Sales Managers.
Manage Accounts and Pipeline
- Manage an established base of approximately 50 to 60 customer accounts while actively developing new OEM and application-focused relationships.
- Record all account activity, contacts, and opportunities in CRM and ERP systems daily.
- Educate customers on the latest automation industry trends, technologies, and product capabilities.
Qualifications
What We're Looking For
Must Have:
- Strong hands-on technical background in automation, electronic controls, electromechanical devices, or industrial controls — this is the non-negotiable foundation of the role.
- Ability to understand customer applications and help specify products into equipment or machine designs.
- Significant expertise in automation products and automation network protocols — PLCs, motion controllers, VFDs, servo motors, linear actuators, or electromechanical systems.
- At least 1 to 3 years of technical sales or customer-facing technical experience — candidates with stronger technical backgrounds and less sales experience will be considered.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
- Energetic, persuasive, and goal-oriented with strong time management and multitasking ability.
- Proficiency with ERP, CRM, inventory software, and Microsoft Office Suite.
Nice to Have:
- OEM selling experience or application-focused technical sales where products are specified into equipment designs.
- Experience selling into medical equipment manufacturers, paper converting, custom machine builders, food processing equipment, machine tooling, or hydraulic press manufacturers.
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical discipline — strongly preferred.
- Background in fluid power, hydraulics, or pneumatics in addition to electronic controls and automation.
About RitterTech / RSA
RitterTech is the founding division of Motion and Control Enterprises (MCE), established in 1951 and built on deep expertise in fluid power, hydraulics, pneumatics, automation, and industrial distribution across the Midwest. RSA extends that capability with a focused automation and electronic controls product offering, serving manufacturers, OEMs, and industrial customers across Illinois and Indiana with the technical depth and product breadth to solve real application challenges.
Together as part of MCE, a top-50 national industrial distributor with 25+ specialized companies and 60+ facilities across 18+ states, the RitterTech and RSA teams have the product access, technical resources, and customer reach to compete and win in the automation space.
RitterTech / RSA and MCE are proud Equal Opportunity Employers. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities.
If you are a technically sharp automation and controls professional ready to apply your expertise in a focused, high-value sales role across the Illinois and Indiana market, we would love to hear from you.
Apply today — it only takes a few minutes.
MCE does not accept candidate submissions from third-party recruiters or agencies. Any resumes or candidate information submitted without a prior written agreement in place will be considered the property of MCE, and no fees will be paid.
Recruiters and agencies are directed not to contact MCE employees directly regarding this or any of our other open positions.
Strong technical background in automation, electronic controls, or electromechanical systems; 1-3 years technical sales or customer-facing experience; proficiency with ERP, CRM, inventory software, and Microsoft Office; excellent communication and presentation skills.
Key Responsibilities
- managing accounts
- developing growth plans
- providing technical support
Skills & Tools
ERP, CRM, Microsoft Office
Job Details
- Category: Sales
- Seniority: Entry Level
- Commitment: Full Time
- Workplace: Remote — Zelienople, Pennsylvania, United States
- Languages: English
Benefits
- 401k matching
- Generous paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Retirement plan
- Generous parental leave
About RitterTech
A division of Motion and Control Enterprises specializing in automation and electronic controls for industrial customers. — Industry: Industrial Processing