Job ID: TM284211029
Location: Duluth, GA
Category: Executive & Management
Employment Type: Permanent
Date Added: 10/29/2026
Welding Automation Sales Manager | $125K–$170K + Bonus | Direct Hire | Remote – Gulf Coast or East Coast
What Matters Most:
- Competitive compensation: $125,000–$170,000 base salary
- Bonus: 10%–20% based on company performance
- Schedule: Full-time, remote with approximately 50%–60% travel
- Location: Gulf Coast or East Coast preferred, particularly New Orleans, Houston/Galveston, Norfolk, and Newport News
- Experience: 5+ years in capital equipment, welding, automation, or related technical sales, preferably supporting shipbuilding or heavy fabrication customers
- Industry background: Shipbuilding, marine manufacturing, welding automation, or heavy steel fabrication
Job Description:
An established global industrial robotics and automation manufacturer is seeking a Welding Automation Sales Manager to expand its business within the U.S. shipbuilding and heavy steel fabrication markets. This position will focus on developing new business with commercial shipyards, naval and defense shipbuilding operations, offshore and workboat manufacturers, and heavy steel fabricators. The ideal candidate brings technical knowledge of welding equipment, industrial robotics, or fabrication automation, combined with established industry relationships and strong business development capabilities. Candidates may come from welding automation manufacturers, capital equipment suppliers, or shipbuilding organizations. Professionals with direct shipyard experience, technical expertise, and the commercial aptitude to transition into a business development position are also encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities:
- Develop new business opportunities for industrial robotics, welding automation systems, and related capital equipment within shipbuilding and heavy fabrication markets.
- Build and maintain relationships with shipyard decision-makers, including engineering, production, operations, and capital equipment procurement teams.
- Identify opportunities to improve welding productivity, quality, and efficiency through automation.
- Manage the full sales process, from prospecting and initial customer engagement through technical evaluation, quotation, negotiation, and project handoff.
- Work closely with engineering and applications teams to identify suitable technical solutions for customer requirements.
- Develop relationships with commercial, naval, defense, offshore, and workboat shipyards, as well as heavy fabrication companies.
- Support technical demonstrations, customer site visits, and equipment evaluations.
- Attend maritime, welding, and fabrication industry events to generate new business opportunities.
- Leverage existing industry relationships while developing additional accounts through direct prospecting and referrals.
- Maintain accurate sales forecasts, pipeline information, and CRM records.
- Balance approximately 75% new business development with 25% account management.
- Work toward an annual bookings target of approximately $1 million.
Other Qualifications/Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in capital equipment, welding, industrial automation, or related technical sales.
- Experience selling into shipyards, marine manufacturing, or heavy fabrication environments strongly preferred.
- Alternatively, direct experience within shipbuilding operations combined with relevant technical expertise and business development capabilities.
- Familiarity with industrial robotics, welding automation, mechanized welding equipment, or heavy fabrication machinery.
- Working knowledge of welding processes such as GMAW/MIG, FCAW, and SAW preferred.
- Understanding of shipyard production processes, structural steel fabrication, panel and profile lines, or block assembly is highly desirable.
- Existing relationships with shipyards, welding equipment manufacturers, fabricators, or industry decision-makers preferred.
- Ability to manage complex, consultative capital equipment sales cycles involving multiple stakeholders.
- Strong technical communication, customer presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Experience with CRM systems and sales forecasting.
- Familiarity with marine and defense industry standards such as NAVSEA, ABS, DNV, AWS, or related requirements is a plus.
- Willingness to travel approximately 50%–60%, depending on location and customer coverage.
- Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Benefits and Perks:
- Competitive base salary of $125K–$170K, depending on experience
- Performance-based annual bonus opportunity of 10%–20%
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan
- Remote position with travel throughout major U.S. shipbuilding regions
- Opportunity to support advanced robotic welding and fabrication automation technologies
- Significant opportunity for new business development and market expansion
- Career advancement within a growing North American operation
- Resources and technical support of an established global industrial manufacturer
Your New Organization:
Join an internationally established industrial robotics and automation manufacturer with a growing presence in the North American market. The organization delivers advanced robotics and automation technologies used in manufacturing, welding, material handling, and heavy industrial applications.
With strong global engineering resources and an expanding U.S. commercial operation, the company offers an opportunity to help modernize production processes within the shipbuilding and heavy fabrication industries.
Your Career Partner:
The Reserves Network, a veteran-founded and family-owned company, specializes in connecting talented professionals with career opportunities that align with their experience and goals. We work closely with both candidates and employers to provide a personalized recruiting experience.
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

