Sales Engineer, Mpumalanga

Company Description

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies. 

We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards. 

John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries. 

Job Description

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The Sales Engineer is responsible for developing and executing sales strategies to drive business growth in the Power Generation sector. This includes identifying new business opportunities, managing key accounts, providing technical solutions, and ensuring alignment between customer requirements and company capabilities.

SPECIFIC DUTIES, ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

FUNCTIONS

• Develop and Implement strategies for growth defined with clearly mapped out opportunities for the short, medium and long term.
• To establish strategic alliances with OEMs, cultivating long term commitment and co-operation for mutual benefit and added value.
• Establish and maintain contracts and contacts across the Region appropriate for the successful and profitable management of the Region.
• Prepare Sales plans and maintain a high level of forecast accuracy with monthly planning and reporting. 
• Attend to all incoming telephonic and e-mail enquiries, giving special attention to technical and commercial matters as well as provide customer support.
• Process and coordinate orders with the CST to ensure that the customer receives their complete order by the required date and to the correct specification.
• Keep abreast of new developments in Power Generation market as well as competitor activities.
• Develop and maintain the customer relationship management (CRM) database that accurately tracks projects, opportunities, orders and sales.
• Create and maintain the customer/sales data base (plant surveys) as well as prices and contracts.
• Create a strategic marketing and communication plan including, workshops & training
• Assist finance department in resolving payment issues.
• Prepare and achieve annual orders and sales budgets for assigned accounts.
• Provide technical support as a Sales Engineer by assisting with on-site installation requirements, coordinating between customers, OEM, and internal teams to ensure installations are completed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with company standards.
• Root cause analysis, failure mode assessment, recommendations and reporting.
• Continuous visitations to end users to meet customer needs.
• Actively promote the complete John Crane product range, including mechanical seals, couplings, filtration systems, and reliability services, with a focus on identifying upgrade opportunities and enhancing customer performance.

RESONSIBILITIES

• Strong understanding and experience of dealing with complex commercial agreements and contracts. NEC3 contract negotiation advantageous.
• Postgraduate qualification in Business Management or Sales & Marketing advantageous.
• Minimum 5–8 years’ experience in technical sales, preferably in the Power Generation, Energy, or Industrial Equipment sectors.
• Mechanical Engineering Degree.
• Able to influence and establish new relationships as well as strengthen existing relationships.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel regionally
• Employment Equity candidate
• Strong understanding of power generation systems, including diesel/gas generators, turbines, alternators, switchgear, and control systems.
• Familiarity with OEM equipment, rotating machinery, and maintenance/service solutions.
• Working knowledge of energy efficiency, renewable integration (solar, hybrid systems), and grid synchronization.
• Understanding of tendering processes, technical proposals, and project execution cycles in industrial or utility environments.
• Awareness of industry standards (e.g., IEC, ISO, API, NEMA).

Qualifications

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Education/Training:  Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar field

Experience:             5+ years of professional experience in engineering and sales

Knowledge/Skills:   Engineering knowledge in a proactive multinational and multicultural environment.

A strong technical knowledge of John Crane product portfolio.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Results-driven, self-motivated, and technically curious.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.
• High integrity and customer-centric mindset.
• Strategic thinker with a problem-solving orientation.
• Adaptable to fast-changing market and technology trends.

Additional Information

With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity. 

Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network. 

Join us for a great career with competitive compensation and benefits, while helping engineer a better future. 

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)