Job Description

About the Role

Vandevanter Engineering, A Cogent Company, is currently seeking a Municipal Outside Sales Engineer to sell water and wastewater treatment equipment, pumping equipment and control systems. This position is responsible for sourcing new customers and accounts, growing and retaining existing accounts, and providing unparalleled customer service. Cogent is looking for professional, experienced salespeople in the St. Louis area.

This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor's in Engineering (or similar degree) and a minimum of two years’ experience in technical sales and account management in the attainment of challenging sales goals; or a combination of education and work experience will also be considered.

This role is ideal for a consultative seller who understands municipal procurement processes, values technical selling, and is energized by uncovering opportunities to support customers.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute a strategic sales plan
• Manage and grow an assigned territory and account base
• Build trusted relationships with municipal engineers, plant managers, and procurement teams
• Collaborate with inside sales, service, engineering, and operations teams to deliver exceptional customer experiences
• Track and manage pipeline activity within CRM
• Provide accurate forecasting and territory reporting
• Support customer site visits, technical discussions, and product recommendations
• Stay informed on municipal budgets, bid processes, and industry trends

Qualified applicants will also possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Strong knowledge of water and wastewater processes and equipment applications
• Strong product knowledge in pumping and control systems
• Proven ability to prospect, close sales, and obtain referrals
• Proven experience in account management
• Goal-oriented, self-driven, and self-motivated
• Proven ability to run multiple projects simultaneously
• Proven experience in account management
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Excellent customer follow-up and responsiveness skills
• Excellent oral, written, and listening communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Experience with Salesforce CRM
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Will require both time on the road and in the office. Some overnight travel

What Sets You Apart

• Experience with pumps, fluid processing equipment, controls, or mechanical systems
• Established relationships within municipal water/wastewater markets
• Ability to position value beyond price in competitive bid environments

Why Work With Us?

At Cogent, you’re not just an employee—you’re an owner. Our people make the difference; our shared values define us as a team and bring our vision to life. Together, our team of employee-owners is committed to helping build healthy and prosperous communities through creatively engineered solutions for our customers. We are a growing Midwest company that provides fluid processing solutions serving the local Industrial, Municipal, Commercial Building Trades, Oil and Gas markets through our family of trusted brands.

What We Offer

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) with company match
• Profit-Sharing Plan
• Health, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
• Ongoing training and career growth opportunities

At Cogent, this isn’t just another sales job — it’s an opportunity to build long-term wealth and impact as an employee-owner.

If you’re ready to grow your career in engineered sales with a company built for the long haul, apply today.