Sales Engineer and Project Manager

Sales Engineer & Fab Project Manager (Metal Distribution & Fabrication)

Boone Steel is seeking an Estimator-Engineering / Project Manager to support both its core metal distribution business and its strategic transition toward fabrication-driven growth.

This role will be responsible for:

• Quoting metal resale (distribution) and fabricated work
• Supporting light engineering and design-for-manufacturing
• Managing fabrication projects from quotes through delivery
• Ensuring customer expectations are met in quality, cost, and delivery

This position serves as a critical bridge between sales, engineering, and operations, helping Boone Steel grow fabrication while maintaining excellence in its distribution business.

1. Estimating & Quoting (Distribution + Fabrication)

• Distribution
• Prepare quotes for:
  Stock metal (hot rolled, cold finished, aluminum, etc.)
• Monitor:
  Material pricing, Margin targets
• Coordinate with purchasing and inventory to ensure availability and pricing accuracy
• Fabrication (Growth Focus)
• Prepare quotes for:
  Fabricated components and assemblies, Cutting, forming, and value-added services
• Estimate:
  Material requirements (yield, nesting, scrap), Labor hours (cutting, forming, finishing), Outside services (coating, machining, etc.)
• Develop pricing aligned with margin targets and strategic growth objectives

2. Engineering & Technical Support

• Create or interpret:
  Fabrication drawings, Cut lists and nesting layouts (plasma/laser)
• Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles:
  Optimize material usage, Reduce labor complexity, Ensure design is manufacturable and meets customer needs
• Support development of:
  Standard fabrication processes, Routing and job instructions

3. Project Management (Fabrication Work)

• Own fabrication projects from:
  Quote → Order → Production → Delivery
• Create and manage:
  Work orders, Job travelers / routers
• Coordinate with:
  Shop floor, Purchasing, Scheduling
• Track progress and proactively resolve issues

4. Customer Interface

• Serve as a key point of contact for:
  Distribution customers (quotes, availability, pricing), Fabrication customers (project scope, updates, delivery)
• Communicate:
  Lead times, Design considerations, Changes and updates
• Ensure alignment between:
  What was sold, What is being delivered

5. Quality & Execution Oversight

• Ensure finished products meet:
  Customer expectations, Quoted scope
• Perform final checks from a customer perspective
• Support development of:
  Fabrication quality standards, Continuous improvement processes

Distribution KPIs

• Quote turnaround time
• Quote win rate (%)
• Gross margin % (material sales)
• Sales volume ($)

Fabrication KPIs

• Gross margin on fabricated jobs
• Labor vs estimated hours (quote accuracy)
• Material yield / scrap %
• On-time delivery %
• Fabrication revenue growth (% of total sales)

3–7 years experience in one or more:

• Metal distribution
• Metal fabrication
• Estimating or project management
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills

Experience with:

• Plasma / laser cutting
• Press brake forming
• Nesting software
• CAD experience (AutoCAD, Solid Works, or similar)
• ERP or job costing system experience

High C (Conscientiousness) → accuracy, detail, process

Moderate D → ownership and decision-making

Moderate S → consistency and follow-through

Within 6–12 months, this person will:

• Accurately quote both distribution and fabrication work
• Improve pricing discipline and margin consistency in material sales
• Increase fabrication revenue as a % of total business
• Reduce material waste through better nesting and planning
• Improve coordination between sales, office, and shop
• Help establish repeatable fabrication processes

This role is central to Boone Steel's growth strategy:

• Maintains strength in core distribution revenue
• Builds capability in higher-margin fabrication work
• Helps transition the company toward a more value-added business model