Sales Engineer - Service

About the Role

The Sales Engineer – Automotive Paintshop Service & Upgrades is responsible for supporting automotive OEM and Tier 1 customers with technical and commercial proposals for paintshop modifications, upgrades, retrofits, and refurbishments. This role leads specification reviews for service-related RFQs, defines technically sound upgrade solutions, and develops accurate cost calculations for associated work on existing paint shop systems.

Service RFQ & Scope Review

• Lead and support technical reviews of service-related RFQs for automotive paintshop upgrades, modifications, expansions, and refurbishments.
• Analyze existing paintshop installations, as-built documentation, and operating conditions to define upgrade scope.
• Interpret customer requirements related to performance improvements, capacity increases, quality enhancements, safety upgrades, and regulatory compliance.
• Identify constraints associated with brownfield environments, including production continuity, space limitations, and phased implementation.

Specification Development & Finalization

• Develop and finalize technical specifications for service and upgrade proposals, including:
  • Equipment retrofits and replacements
  • Process improvements and technology upgrades
  • Controls, automation, and software updates
  • Safety, environmental, and compliance-related modifications
• Define assumptions, interfaces, exclusions, and responsibilities clearly for service scope.
• Coordinate with service engineering, controls, electrical, and mechanical disciplines to ensure feasibility and alignment.

Cost Calculation & Commercial Support

• Prepare cost estimates for service work, including equipment, engineering, installation, commissioning, production downtime, and aftermarket services.
• Work with suppliers and internal service teams to obtain accurate pricing for parts, labor, and subcontracted work.

Cross-Functional & Service Collaboration

• Act as the technical-commercial interface between Sales, Service Engineering, Project Management, Field Service, and Purchasing.
• Support internal proposal reviews, technical risk assessments, and execution readiness checks.
• Assist with technical handover from sales to execution, ensuring clarity on scope, assumptions, and constraints of live plant environments.

Customer Engagement & Site Support

• Participate in customer meetings, plant walkdowns, and technical clarification discussions.
• Support bid clarification and negotiation phases with technical justification and cost transparency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, Industrial, or Chemical preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in automotive paintshop systems, with a strong emphasis on service, upgrades, or brownfield projects.
• Proven experience supporting service RFQs and aftermarket proposals for automotive OEM facilities.
• Hands-on knowledge of operating paintshops and legacy equipment.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Strong understanding of automotive paintshop processes and installed systems.
• Experience with retrofits, control upgrades, safety upgrades, and refurbishment strategies.
• Solid cost estimation skills for service, retrofit, and brownfield scopes.
• Familiarity with global and regional codes and standards applicable to existing facilities.
• Ability to interpret as-built drawings, OEM standards, and plant documentation.

Soft Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, particularly for constrained environments.
• Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical customer stakeholders.
• High attention to detail, especially around scope definition and risk management.
• Ability to manage multiple service RFQs simultaneously in a time-sensitive environment.
• Practical, solution-oriented mindset with strong customer focus.