Industrial Automation Sales Representative - Knoxville Metro

OTC Industrial Technologies is looking for a driven Industrial Automation Sales Representative to own and grow a territory across the Knoxville metro area — a rapidly expanding market anchored by automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and advanced industrial production in East Tennessee. You'll sell a full solutions portfolio across machine control, motion control, safety systems, and robotics, backed by a dedicated support team so you can spend 80% of your time in front of customers.

What's In It For You

• Strong Six-Figure Earning Potential: Base salary plus an uncapped commission plan. Year 1 OTE: Minimum $120,000-$150,000; Year 2 and beyond: $150,000-$200,000+
• Your Dollar Goes Further: Tennessee has zero state income tax — your take-home pay here is meaningfully higher than the same salary in most other states.
• Full Support Team: Dedicated application engineers, product specialists, and customer service partners
• Real Territory Autonomy: Manage an existing customer base with the entrepreneurial freedom to build and execute your own regional growth strategy.
• Sell What Matters: Machine control, motion control, safety systems, and robotics & automation — a comprehensive, premium solutions portfolio backed by in-depth technical training to make you a trusted advisor.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, vision + 401(k) with 50% match up to 6%, unlimited PTO, tuition assistance, and clear corporate career advancement support.

Who Thrives Here

• A True Hunter: Energized by new account acquisition, territory building, and year-over-year revenue growth.
• Technical Credibility: Competent and fluid enough to hold your own in a deep automation conversation with plant managers and engineering teams.
• The "Business Owner" Mindset: Self-directed, resilient, and ready to run your assigned territory like your own business.
• Consultative Partner: You listen first, solve complex automation problems, and avoid transactional product pitching.

What You'll Do

• Grow Your Territory: Perform strategic sales calls, construct localized plans to exceed annual goals, and aggressively target high-potential new accounts across the Knoxville metro and surrounding East Tennessee markets.
• Build Relationships & Pipeline: Establish trust across all organizational levels, spot engineering opportunities early, prepare custom solutions proposals, and maintain a highly predictable pipeline.
• Sell Collaboratively: Partner with our in-house application engineers, product specialists, and factory representatives to co-sell multifaceted, complex automation solutions.
• Stay Sharp on the Market: Keep ahead of regional trends in robotics, Industry 4.0, and advanced controls to position OTC as a forward-thinking solutions authority.
• Maintain Accountability: Keep cleanly organized activity, opportunity tracking, and client interaction details logged within our CRM system.

What You'll Need

• Experience & Aptitude: Technical degree or 3+ years of successful industrial distribution or technical sales experience. Verifiable expertise in at least one key domain: machine control, motion control, safety systems, or robotics/automation.
• Technical Credibility: Verifiable expertise in at least one key domain, such as machine control, motion control, safety systems, robotics, or industrial automation.
• PLC Knowledge: PLC knowledge and hands-on PLC-related experience are strongly preferred.
• Blueprint Competency: Ability to fluidly interpret blueprints, schematic drawings, technical manuals, and vendor catalogs.
• Proven Performance: A demonstrated track record of year-over-year sales growth and cold/warm account acquisition.
• Core Competencies: Strong planning, organization, and problem-solving abilities, paired with exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Professional Mindset: High resilience, self-motivation, and the ability to independently manage a territory with a customer-first commitment and adaptability in a rapidly changing industrial landscape.
• Tools & Mobility: High proficiency with CRM platforms and Microsoft Office Suite. Must possess a valid driver's license and be fully comfortable working in industrial and manufacturing environments.

About Advanced Industrial Products

Advanced Industrial Products is a division of OTC Industrial Technologies — one of the largest industrial distribution and service companies in the U.S. Our East Tennessee team serves customers across automation, motion control, and advanced industrial solutions, bringing deep technical expertise to a manufacturing market that continues to grow and diversify.

Learn more about OTC here: About Us | OTC Industrial Technologies