Technical Sales Engineer - Ethanol - Illinois

About the role

Join a purpose-driven company making a global impact on society and creating a healthier environment. As a Technical Sales Engineer at Whitefox Technologies, you’ll help reduce energy and water waste in industrial processes, driving real-world impact. This high-impact role sits at the intersection of technology, sales, and customer experience, focused on delivering scalable, high-value solutions. You’ll play a key role in more than doubling our North American business over the next two years, with a strong focus on expanding our membrane technology, especially in the bioethanol sector.

Responsibilities

• Represent Whitefox values, standards, and safety culture in all customer interactions.
• Partner with Sales and customers to understand challenges, analyze process data, and develop practical, membrane-based solutions.
• Support Sales in presenting the technical aspects of Whitefox technologies to customers through virtual and in-person meetings.
• Communicate technical and economic value clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, positioning Whitefox as the preferred solution.
• Develop conceptual designs of Whitefox solutions addressing customer needs, such as energy efficiency, water usage, and overall operational performance improvements.
• Develop process simulation models to quantify and validate the expected performance and benefits of proposed solutions.
• Estimate and monetize project benefits, including utility savings, production impacts, carbon credit generation, and other economic drivers.
• Prepare preliminary capital cost estimates, including engineering, equipment, construction, and installation.
• Use techno-economic evaluations (ROI, payback time) to compare, refine, and optimize alternative solution concepts, and clearly communicate trade-offs to internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to early-stage front-end loading/gated development of opportunities by maturing technical scope, cost basis, and risk understanding prior to commercial commitments.
• Develop front-end engineering deliverables to support solution definition, including process flow diagrams, heat and material balances, utility summaries, equipment lists, and basis of design documentation.
• Perform preliminary sizing of major process equipment, including pumps, heat exchangers, vessels, membranes, piping systems, and others.
• Identify and document technical risks, assumptions, and open items to support aligned internal decision-making.
• Deliver a high-quality, value-driven customer experience using structured, data-driven approaches.
• Support continuous improvement of products, tools, and solution methodologies.
• Stay informed on industry trends, competitive technologies, and integration opportunities.

Requirements

• B.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering or a related technical discipline. Advanced degree (M.Sc.) is considered an asset.
• 5+ years of experience in process engineering, solution development, or technical-commercial roles within industrial, energy, or chemical sectors.
• 3+ years of experience with process simulation tools (e.g., Aspen Plus, HYSYS, ChemCAD, Symmetry, or equivalent).
• Experience in a Technical Sales Engineering, Applications Engineering, or similar customer-facing technical-commercial role is considered an asset.
• Experience developing mass and energy balances, utility balances, and process performance models for customer-specific applications.
• Experience working directly with customers in technical or commercial roles.
• Experience with brownfield integration, plant modifications, or retrofit projects is an asset.
• Familiarity with ethanol production processes or membrane technologies is an asset.

Skills

• Innovation & Strategic Thinking
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Learning Agility & Resilience
• Outcome-Driven Execution

Schedule

Full-time, permanent role based in the United States. Travel expected: 25%. Valid Driver's License required.

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Education Assistance
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Pay

Bonus pay available.