Sales Engineer – Electronic Hardware
Location: Wheaton, IL
Type: Full-Time
Posted: May 2026
About the Company
A well-established, multi-disciplinary product design and development consultancy based in the western Chicago suburbs. This firm works with a diverse portfolio of clients across consumer, commercial, industrial, medical, and fitness markets — taking products from initial concept through full production transfer. The team is talented, fast-paced, and highly collaborative, with a reputation for delivering innovative, manufacturable solutions for some of the most recognized brands in their respective industries. This is a small, close-knit team where your contributions are visible and meaningful.
The Opportunity
This is a unique hybrid role — approximately 25% client development and sales, 75% electronic hardware engineering — designed for an experienced EE who is equally comfortable building client relationships as they are designing circuits. You'll be the face of the firm to prospective clients while remaining a hands-on contributor to the product development process. You will work closely with an internal quoting team to respond to RFQs, so you won't be building proposals from scratch — your job is to open the door and speak the language.
This role is ideal for a technically strong engineer who is naturally outgoing, enjoys building relationships, and wants a seat at the table from business development through product execution.
What You'll Do
Engineering (75%)
Serve as Project Lead or Design Engineer on electronic hardware development projects
Design, prototype, assemble, and debug custom electronics hardware across a diverse client portfolio
Work across full product development cycles: concept, schematic capture, PCB layout, prototyping, test, and manufacturing transfer
Collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, software, and industrial design teams
Prepare fabrication packages for contract manufacturers
Write test plans, product specs, and clearly communicate design rationale to project teams and clients
Sales & Business Development (25%)
Prospect for and develop new client relationships
Maintain strong goodwill with existing clients and serve as a trusted technical point of contact
Attend 2–3 trade shows annually to generate leads and represent the firm
Conduct light local travel for client entertainment and relationship building
Partner with the internal quoting team to assemble and respond to RFQs — translate client needs into actionable proposals
Who You Are
U.S. citizen with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering or equivalent; 3–6+ years of product development experience
Hands-on with electronics — comfortable soldering, assembling, and debugging prototype circuits using oscilloscopes, meters, and other bench tools
Fluent in schematic capture and PCB layout (Altium preferred); experience with multi-layer boards and controlled-impedance data buses
Strong working knowledge of digital and analog circuitry; embedded microcontroller experience (STM32 and Microchip preferred; 8-, 16-, and 32-bit architectures)
Knowledgeable in common electronics manufacturing processes and contract manufacturer workflows
Able to create clear block diagrams, test result graphs, and written specifications that communicate effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
A natural relationship builder — outgoing, personable, and confident representing a firm in front of new and existing clients
Comfortable attending trade shows and engaging in light local client-facing activities
Fast learner who can navigate new technologies, collaborate across disciplines, and thrive in a dynamic, client-driven environment
Why This Role
Rare opportunity to blend hands-on engineering with business development — no full-time sales quota pressure
Work on a wide variety of products across multiple industries — no two projects are the same
Small team, big impact — your work is seen and valued
Competitive base salary with commission upside tied to business development performance
Comprehensive benefits including health coverage, 401(k) with immediate vesting, and performance-based equity participation