Innovation and Concepting Engineer

About the role

As the Innovation and Concepting Engineer (Sales Engineer), you will serve as the technical bridge between customers, sales, engineering, estimating, manufacturing, and executive leadership. You will ensure that technically sound, well-defined, and manufacturable solutions are created, priced, communicated, and supported throughout the sales and innovation lifecycle while strengthening internal capability and protecting the company’s technical and intellectual assets.

Southworth International Group, Inc. (SIGI) is the world’s largest manufacturer of ergonomic material handling equipment for vertical lifting and work positioning. Our products improve worker productivity and reduce the potential for injuries in factories and warehouses. This position is based in Falmouth, Maine or remote.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and communicate engineered solutions that integrate with current designs and assemblies to both external and internal stakeholders in the sales and order execution process.
• Develop and present strategic innovation frameworks that push the envelope of current capabilities and have a large-scale global impact on SIGI.
• Present custom-tailored engineered solutions to customers.
• Troubleshoot field assemblies to understand, communicate, and lead next steps in the sales process, particularly for next-generation equipment opportunities.
• Train new salespeople, manufacturers, and engineers to ensure knowledge transfer and standardization across departments.
• Manage SIGI’s Global Intellectual Property and serve as the primary liaison between SIGI and legal representatives.
• Lead technical presentations, exploratory discussions, or ideation sessions to capture the voice of the customer regarding material handling challenges.
• Create documents that fully define application scope (e.g., conformity matrix), including assembly limitations and derating methods.
• Analyze, develop, and discuss machine risk assessments, collaborating with cross-functional teams to determine the best path forward.
• Develop and/or review pricing for new custom-tailored solutions, considering the quantity of machines being developed or delivered.
• Enable and lead internal dialogues with engineering, sales, and executive leadership to expand the range of solutions SIGI is comfortable offering.
• Assist with continuous improvement testing on legacy designs and fixtures, as well as new product development testing to validate designs.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert for patent-related questions, IP concerns, AI development, refinement, and troubleshooting.
• Proactively participate in and promote knowledge sharing across SIGI.
• Respond to opportunities, projects, and customer developments within the global sales and strategic account organization.
• Recognize and communicate potential developments, patterns of customer needs, and threats (e.g., competition, regulations).
• Collaborate frequently with Engineering and Manufacturing departments.

Requirements

• Associate's degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology preferred, or military/civilian technical school with 5 years of related experience.
• 5+ years of technical engineering experience, preferably in manufacturing.
• Solid working knowledge of statics, dynamics, strength of materials, and machine design.
• 3+ years of CAD modeling experience (SolidWorks preferred).
• Experience drafting parts and assemblies using industry-standard practices, including GD&T.
• Experience using FEA to evaluate design integrity.
• Thorough knowledge of hydraulic systems and components, fabricated steel weldments, and electrical systems, including wiring and hydraulic schematics.
• Working understanding of Microsoft 365 Applications, including Microsoft CoPilot.
• Exposure to continuous process improvement methodologies, such as Lean Six Sigma.
• Demonstrated history of relevant experience, dependability, and aptitude may substitute for formal education.
• Up to 25% travel to factories or customer sites, with occasional peaks.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage effectively with dealers, distributors, end users, and coworkers.
• Ability to work accurately against deadlines and self-manage daily tasks.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to describe technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Creative problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage and balance time effectively across multiple projects.
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills, fostering trust and transparency.
• Competencies in technical and engineering leadership, sales and customer enablement, collaboration, and self-guided curiosity.