Technical Sales Engineer — Pumping Systems

TRANS AFRICA WATER

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Technical Sales Engineer — Pumping Systems

Division

Pumping Systems

Reports To

Sales Manager

Location

Nairobi, Kenya

Employment Type

Full-Time

About Trans Africa Water

Trans Africa Water (TAW) is a multi-division water and energy solutions company operating across Solar, Pumps, and Water Treatment. TAW is a project-based commercial entity across the water and wastewater ecosystem, we are building a high-performing sales team capable of winning and delivering large-scale project contracts across private enterprise, institutional, and government client segments.

Role Overview

The Technical Sales Engineer — Pumping systems plays a critical technical-commercial role within TAW's expanding project sales function. This position bridges technical expertise and market-facing sales, responsible for identifying, developing, and closing project opportunities in the pumping and water systems space. The Sales Engineer works closely with the Sales Manager and engages clients across Real estate, industrial, agricultural, and institutional sectors.

Key Responsibilities

Sales & Business Development

• Identify and develop new project sales opportunities within target client segments including commercial building services, Industrial, Water utilities, Select government entitities, agribusiness, and general real estate.
• Build and manage a healthy divisional pipeline, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records in the shared pipeline tracker.
• Conduct direct client outreach, technical presentations, and site visits to understand project requirements and position TAW's solutions effectively.
• Support TAW in achieving divisional revenue and pipeline targets.

Technical Engagement

• Conduct technical needs assessments for Building services, irrigation, industrial, and water utility projects.
• Prepare and present technically accurate proposals, bills of quantities (BoQs), and system recommendations tailored to client requirements.
• Collaborate with procurement and supply chain to confirm product availability, lead times, and pricing for proposals.
• Provide pre- and post-sales technical support to clients, ensuring smooth project handovers to installation or delivery teams.

Market Intelligence & Relationship Management

• Maintain active awareness of market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities in the water and wastewater sector.
• Build and sustain relationships with key decision-makers including engineers, facilities managers, procurement officers, and project managers.
• Represent TAW professionally at industry events, trade shows, and client engagement forums.

Reporting & Administration

• Submit structured weekly sales reports to the Sales Manager
• Maintain all deal information — client, value, stage, expected close date — in TAW's shared pipeline tracker.
• Flag stalled deals, client risks, or internal resource constraints promptly through the established escalation protocol.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Biosystems Engineering (or equivalent accredited qualification).
• 3–5 years of demonstrated experience in pump sales or water systems project sales, with a track record of closing commercial or institutional deals.
• Valid driver's licence (mandatory — the role requires regular field travel to client sites).

Technical Knowledge & Competencies

• Working knowledge of pump types and applications: borehole pumps, centrifugal pumps, submersible pumps, solar pumps, booster sets, and water heating systems.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, hydraulic calculations, and system schematics.
• Familiarity with pump selection software and sizing tools is an advantage.
• Understanding of water and wastewater treatment processes relevant to pump integration is desirable.
• Knowledge of relevant industry standards, regulatory requirements, and procurement processes in the Kenyan water sector.

Business Acumen & Commercial Skills

• Strong understanding of project sales cycles, client decision-making processes, and competitive commercial environments.
• Ability to read market dynamics — identifying growth segments, anticipating demand shifts, and positioning TAW's offering accordingly.
• Competence in developing commercially sound proposals, including margin-aware pricing and scope definition.
• Numerically confident: able to interpret pipeline data, revenue forecasts, and porfit margins
• Experience navigating procurement-driven buying environments (institutional, government, developer) is a strong advantage.

Personal Attributes

• Self-driven and results-oriented — comfortable working independently in the field and managing a personal pipeline.
• Strong communicator: able to engage confidently with both technical professionals and non-technical decision-makers.
• Disciplined and organised, with a high standard of accuracy in proposals and reporting.
• Collaborative team player who contributes to a positive divisional culture while maintaining individual accountability.
• Adaptable and growth-minded, open to coaching and performance feedback within a structured commercial framework.

What TAW Offers

• A competitive base salary commensurate with experience, benchmarked to the water and energy sector.
• Performance-based commission structure tied to project closures and deal value.
• Quarterly performance bonuses aligned to divisional targets.
• Clear career progression pathways as TAW scales its project sales function.
• Professional development support, including funding for relevant technical certifications and training.
• A dynamic, growing organisation at the intersection of water security and clean energy in East Africa.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a CV and a brief cover letter (no more than one page) outlining their relevant experience and mot