Development assistant Jobs in Madison, WI

Sharpe Engineering & Equipment is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to drive growth by identifying, pursuing, and securing new customer relationships across the food & beverage and industrial processing industries.

This outward-facing, hunter-focused role is responsible for opening doors, developing early-stage opportunities, and expanding Sharpe’s footprint across process, packaging, automation, and compliance solutions. You’ll take the lead in building new relationships and turning them into long-term partnerships.

In this role, you’ll collaborate closely with Engineering, Controls, and Project Management to uncover client needs, shape high-level technical solutions, and position Sharpe as a trusted partner. This position is critical to Sharpe’s growth strategy and directly supports our core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Responsibility, Commitment to Stakeholders, and People-Centric Focus.

Key Responsibilities

New Business Development (Primary Focus)

• Identify, target, and pursue new customer opportunities aligned with Sharpe’s ideal client profile
• Develop and execute strategic prospecting plans across key markets, geographies, and industries
• Initiate and manage early-stage conversations with decision-makers and influencers
• Qualify opportunities based on technical fit, budget, and strategic alignment

Sales Pipeline & Opportunity Development

• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of new business opportunities
• Lead discovery meetings to understand customer challenges and identify Sharpe solutions
• Partner with engineering teams to develop high-level solution concepts
• Advance opportunities through proposal, negotiation, and contract stages

Market & Relationship Development

• Represent Sharpe at industry events, trade shows, and networking functions
• Develop relationships with industry partners, vendors, and influencers to generate leads
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities

Handoff & Collaboration

• Represent Sharpe at industry events, trade shows, and networking functions
• Develop relationships with industry partners, vendors, and influencers to generate leads
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities

Why Join Sharpe?
Sharpe Engineering & Equipment is growing and this role puts you at the front edge of that growth.

In this role, you’ll:

• Own the front end of the sales cycle and build new relationships from the ground up
• Sell complex, high-value engineering solutions, not commodity products
• Be backed by deep technical expertise and a strong delivery reputation
• Have the autonomy to create opportunities while working within a collaborative, high-performing team

At Sharpe, business development professionals aren’t left on an island. You’ll be supported by engineering, leadership, and a clear handoff process, allowing you to focus on what you do best: opening doors and creating opportunity.

If you’re motivated by building something new, seeing your impact quickly, and contributing to long-term company success, Sharpe offers a powerful platform to win.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in business development, technical sales, or consultative selling.
• Demonstrated success generating new business in food & beverage, manufacturing, or automation industries.
• Strong hunter mentality with disciplined prospecting and follow-through.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts at a high level to non-technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency with CRM tools and pipeline management.
• Willingness to travel up to 40–50%.

Benefits

Sharpe Engineering offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and work-life balance. Our benefits include paid time off (PTO) plus 10 paid holidays, a flexible work schedule, and medical, dental, and vision insurance. We also provide short-term and long-term disability coverage, as well as life insurance, helping ensure peace of mind for you and your family.

Sharpe Engineering & Equipment is an Equal Opportunity Employer.