Technical Sales Engineer - Commercial Markets

The Role

We are seeking a technically strong, commercially driven Technical Sales Engineer to support and grow our commercial business across robotics, AI infrastructure, energy, industrial automation, and emerging hardware markets.

Working directly with the Head of Commercial Go-to-Market, you will translate customer engineering requirements into manufacturing solutions, manage RFQs and commercial proposals, and help advance programs from prototypes through production. This is a hands-on, customer-facing role for someone with an engineering background, commercial instincts, and an interest in broader business development responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Technical Sales & Customer Engagement

• Engage customer engineering, procurement, and operations teams to understand technical requirements and manufacturing needs.
• Support technical discovery, feasibility assessments, and customer discussions.
• Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, and operations to develop manufacturing solutions.
• Help customers transition from prototype builds to recurring production programs.

RFQ & Commercial Execution

• Manage RFQs from initial requirements through costing, proposals, and customer follow-up.
• Support BOM reviews, manufacturing cost models, pricing, NRE estimates, and commercial negotiations.
• Coordinate technical clarifications, drawing revisions, FAI requirements, and production readiness.
• Track project milestones, customer deliverables, and commercial commitments.

Business Development & Account Growth

• Support customer relationships and identify opportunities to expand manufacturing engagements.
• Qualify inbound opportunities and conduct targeted outreach to emerging hardware companies.
• Participate in customer meetings, industry events, and commercial discussions.
• Maintain accurate opportunity tracking, account updates, and pipeline visibility

What We're Looking for

• Founder mentality: We love people who build like it’s their own company.
• You move fast, take ownership, and find a way through when the path isn’t obvious.
• You have the drive to make big things happen and the judgment to take smart risks along the way.
• If you prefer a clearly defined lane, a predictable pace, and all the answers before you start, there’s nothing wrong with that-but Foundry might not be the right fit.

• 2-5 years of experience in technical sales, sales engineering, applications engineering, business development, or customer-facing engineering roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience working with engineering-driven customers or complex hardware products. * Familiarity with RFQs, BOMs, manufacturing processes, and technical-commercial proposals.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple customer programs and work cross-functionally.
• Self-starter comfortable operating in a fast-paced startup environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience in robotics, industrial automation, electronics manufacturing, contract
• Experience in electronics manufacturing, contract manufacturing, robotics, aerospace, autonomous systems, or industrial automation.
• Exposure to cable harnesses, PCBAs, electromechanical assemblies, or box builds.
• Familiarity with NRE, FAI, manufacturing economics, and production ramps.
• Experience supporting pricing negotiations and customer program execution.
• Bay Area hardware ecosystem experience or early-stage startup exposure.