OEM Business Development Reps

Vaco is hiring several Business Development Engineer Location: Indianapolis Travel: 50%+ Compensation: Approximately $130,000 base + annual performance bonus Type: Direct Hire

Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Business Development Engineer to drive new business growth with mid-size and large OEM customers across industrial and engineered equipment markets. This is a true hunter-focused business development role for someone who understands technical, engineered products and knows how to develop an opportunity from the ground up. You will identify and penetrate target OEM accounts, build relationships with engineering and procurement teams, uncover new applications, and manage opportunities through long, technical sales cycles. The ideal candidate has experience selling bearings, power transmission products, gearboxes, pumps, compressors, motion control, fluid handling, industrial automation, or similar engineered components directly to OEM customers.

• Approximately 2–4 years of professional experience.
• A technical or engineering background.
• Clear communication skills, a willingness to learn, and a proactive approach to pursuing new opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new business within targeted mid-size and large OEM accounts.
• Prospect into assigned target companies and independently identify key contacts and business opportunities.
• Build relationships across R&D, design engineering, purchasing/procurement, quality, and management.
• Partner with engineering teams early in the customer's design process to identify applications and opportunities for engineered bearing solutions.
• Manage opportunities through the full sales cycle, including initial prospecting, needs identification, technical discussions, quotation, sample validation, and conversion to production.
• Partner closely with Application Engineering on product selection, technical requirements, testing, and validation.
• Develop and manage a strong pipeline of qualified, high-value opportunities.
• Maintain accurate opportunity, customer, pipeline, and forecast information within the CRM.
• Provide market intelligence regarding customers, applications, competitors, and emerging opportunities.
• Manage customer relationships and commercial communication throughout the development process.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of technical B2B/OEM sales or business development experience.
• Proven success developing new OEM business, not simply managing existing accounts.
• Experience selling engineered industrial products or components directly to OEM customers.
• Strong experience within bearings, power transmission, gearboxes, pumps, compressors, motion control, fluid handling, industrial automation, or a closely related industry.
• Experience selling to and developing relationships with R&D/design engineers and procurement/buyers.
• Ability to independently prospect, penetrate target accounts, and identify decision-makers.
• Experience managing long, technical sales cycles, ideally 12–24 months.
• Strong technical aptitude and ability to understand customer applications and product requirements.
• Ability and willingness to travel 50%+ nationally.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with bearings or power transmission products.
• Experience getting engineered components designed or specified into an OEM product/application.
• Mechanical Engineering or related technical degree, or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience developing large, high-value OEM accounts and opportunities.

Compensation & Benefits

• Approximately $130K base salary
• Annual KPI/performance-based bonus
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• PTO
• Company vehicle
• Company-paid business travel expenses

This is an excellent opportunity for a technical business development professional who enjoys the challenge of identifying large opportunities, developing relationships from scratch, and working alongside engineering teams to convert complex, long-cycle opportunities into lasting OEM partnerships.

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.