Sales Engineer - Ethiopia (Nairobi based) at The Timken Company

Role Summary

• We are looking for a high-energy, technically strong Sales Engineer to support distribution growth across assigned East Africa markets, including Ethiopia, while being based in Nairobi, Kenya. The role will focus on market intelligence, distributor enablement, technical product support, customer relationship development, and opportunity identification.

Key Responsibilities

Market Development and Planning

• Developing regional market development plans for Ethiopia and assigned surrounding markets, aligned with Timken’s regional growth objectives as directed by the manager.
• Identify and map target customers, end users, distributors, engineering companies, mining operations, cement plants, power generation facilities, manufacturing companies, and other industrial prospects across assigned markets.
• Collect market intelligence on customer needs, competitor activity, industry trends, importation considerations, and distributor capability to support regional planning.
• Prepare non-binding account insights, opportunity summaries, and recommended actions for review and decision by the Manager.

Customer and Distributor Engagement

• Build and maintain professional relationships with distributors, end users, maintenance teams, engineering teams, procurement stakeholders, and other industrial contacts.
• Conduct planned customer and distributor visits to understand technical needs, application requirements, and potential product fit.
• Support distributor development through technical guidance, product knowledge sharing, joint visits, and coordination of approved marketing activities.
• Coordinate with internal teams, including Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Customer Service, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain, to support customer and distributor responsiveness.
• Escalate all commercial matters, including pricing, discounts, terms, quotations, purchase order acceptance, and contract-related discussions, to the Manager.

Technical Support

• Provide technical presentations, product information, product demonstrations, and application support for Timken bearing and power transmission product portfolios.
• Support distributors and customers with technical product understanding, application considerations, and troubleshooting guidance within approved Timken processes.
• Read and interpret technical mechanical drawings, specifications, and application information to support accurate internal recommendations.
• Provide internal and external technical training on Timken products and applications where approved by the Country Manager.

Pipeline, Reporting and Compliance

• Maintain accurate CRM records, visit reports, opportunity notes, customer requirements, and distributor engagement records.
• Maintain pipeline visibility, demand planning, market feedback, and opportunity prioritisation.
• Monitor competitor activity and communicate insights to the Manager for review and agreed response planning.
• Follow Timken policies, local legal requirements, anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards, trade compliance requirements, and delegated authority limits at all times.
• Track all cross-border travel and ensure travel activity remains aligned with approved business, tax, immigration, and legal guidance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related Engineering discipline.
• Minimum 4 years’ sales experience within industrial sectors such as bearings, mining, metals, cement, power generation, heavy industry, or industrial distribution.
• Proven experience in technical sales, business development, distributor management, and customer relationship management within industrial markets.
• Fluent in English, both written and verbal.
• Fluent in Amharic, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage confidently with engineering, maintenance, and technical personnel in Amharic.
• Valid, unendorsed driver’s license.
• Valid passport with the ability and willingness to travel extensively into Ethiopia, including fly-in/fly-out travel where required.
• Must be legally authorized to work in Kenya and be based near the Timken Kenya, Nairobi office – State house road.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of mechanical engineering principles, rotating equipment, and industrial product applications.
• Ability to read and interpret technical mechanical drawings and specifications.
• Proficient in industrial product application, troubleshooting, and customer technical support.
• Ability to conduct technical presentations, product demonstrations, and product training for customers and distributors.
• Experience working with distributor/channel partner business models.
• Understanding of industrial procurement processes, customer decision-making structures, and sales cycles.
• Familiarity with pricing models, sales forecasting, reporting tools, and CRM systems.
• Good command of Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Understanding of import/export processes, customs requirements, duties, tariffs, and logistics impacting business into Angola would be advantageous.

Preferred Experience

• Previous business exposure to Ethiopia or experience supporting sales, distribution, or technical customer engagement in the Ethiopian market will be advantageous.
• Existing network of contacts within Ethiopian industrial markets, distributor channels, engineering companies, mining, cement, power generation, manufacturing, or heavy industry would be beneficial.
• Experience developing new territories, markets, distributors, or channel partner relationships across East Africa or similar emerging markets.
• Familiarity with mining, cement, power generation, manufacturing, heavy industry, or industrial distribution sectors within Ethiopia and surrounding regional markets will be beneficial.
• Experience working across multiple African countries, cultures, and distributor-led market environments.
• Experience supporting the launch or expansion of business activity in a new or developing market, while operating within defined commercial authority and approval frameworks.

Personal Attributes

• High-energy, self-motivated hunter mindset.
• Entrepreneurial and self-starting approach.
• Strong prospecting and business development capability.
• Comfortable working independently in a developing territory.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Problem-solving mindset with strong customer focus.
• Proactive approach to market development.
• Culturally adaptable, relationship-oriented, and resilient in challenging market conditions.
• Strong team player who can collaborate effectively with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Customer Service, Supply Chain, and other internal stakeholders.