Pre-Sales Engineer – Enterprise SaaS (Food & Beverage / CPG)

Pre-Sales Engineer – Enterprise SaaS (Food & Beverage / CPG) FoodChain ID – Remote U.S. | $150K–$160K Base + Incentives Role Summary FoodChain ID is seeking a Pre-Sales Engineer (PSE) with deep experience in food & beverage formulation, PLM systems, specification management, or regulatory/compliance operations. This role supports enterprise SaaS sales by translating complex R&D and compliance workflows into compelling demonstrations of FoodChain ID’s platform capabilities. The ideal candidate is not a traditional software salesperson—they are a former practitioner (Formula Developer, R&D Specialist, PLM Analyst) who understands the day-to-day realities of launching products in global CPG environments. Why This Role Exists FoodChain ID’s growth strategy is built around selling a highly configurable SaaS platform that supports: • Formulation & product lifecycle management • Specification & documentation control • Regulatory and compliance automation • Supplier data governance • R&D Manufacturing scale-up and commercialization To sell this effectively, FoodChain ID must have credible domain experts who can engage directly with the real users of the platform—Formula Developers, R&D Scientists, QA, Regulatory, and PLM teams—who influence buying decisions. The PSE is that expert. THE FIVE NON-NEGOTIABLE MUST-HAVES1. Deep Food & Beverage Formulation / PLM Experience They must have hands-on experience with formulations, specs, BOMs, allergens, regulatory constraints, or PLM systems (Agile, DevEX, SpecRight, Trace One, SAP PLM, etc.). If they haven’t lived this work ? they are NOT a fit. 2. Ability to Conduct Technical Discovery They must understand how R&D, QA, Regulatory, and Supply Chain workflows operate and be able to diagnose: • formulation challenges • compliance risks • supplier data issues • scale-up bottlenecks 3. Strong SaaS Demo & Communication Skills They must be able to show (not just tell) how the software: • speeds up development • automates compliance • integrates with existing systems • improves collaboration 4. Understanding of Integrations & Enterprise Data Flow They must know how PLM, ERP, MDM, MES, QA systems connect and be able to explain seamless integration without disrupting workflows. 5. Ability to Articulate Value (Time-to-Market, Compliance, ROI) They must be able to explain: • faster launch cycles • regulatory confidence via global databases • reduced rework/recalls • measurable ROI If they cannot translate software features into business outcomes, they will not succeed. Ideal Candidate ProfileBackground • 5–10 years in food & beverage formulation, PLM administration, R&D operations, specification management, QA/Regulatory, or related CPG disciplines • Hands-on experience with systems like Agile PLM, DevEX, SpecRight, Trace One, SAP PLM, Centric Software (PLM for Consumer Goods), Aptean, etc. • Experience engaging cross-functionally with R&D, QA, Regulatory, and Manufacturing Core Competencies • Ability to articulate technical workflows to business and technical audiences • Strong presentation and communication skills • Consultative mindset with ability to diagnose operational problems • Ability to support multiple enterprise sales cycles simultaneously Wrong Fit Indicators Do not pursue candidates who: • Are traditional SaaS sales engineers with no food/CPG experience • Come from unrelated industries (aerospace, defense, construction, etc.) • Only perform scripted demos and avoid discovery/solutioning • Prefer short-term consulting over long-term product ownership • Have no hands-on experience in formulation, PLM, or regulatory workflows Compensation & Logistics • Base Salary: $150K–$160K • Incentive Structure: Sales incentive plan • Travel: <20% (approx. 4–5 days/month) • Location: Remote U.S.; must reside within 4 hours of a major airport • Employment: Direct Hire Interview Process • Talent Screening (Recruiting) • Hiring Manager Interview with Clint Chadwick (Enterprise Solutions Lead) • Cross-functional Panel (Sales, Delivery, Product) • Final Alignment & Offer Discussion (In person with Hiring Manager + team) Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law. Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected] . Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal. By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal. Privacy Notice Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” or “Vaco by Highspring”) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies. • California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here. • Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here. • Residents of all other states may access our policies here. • Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here. • Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here. Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: • the individual’s skill sets, experience and training; • licensure and certification requirements; • office location and other geographic considerations; • other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses. Remote Skills: Business Development, Communication Skills, Consulting, Consumer Packaged Goods, Customer Relations, English Language, Enterprise Applications, Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise Sales, Evangelism, Food Production, Food and Beverage Industry, Hair Styling, Manufacturing, Market Trend Analysis, Marketing/Sales Collateral, Needs Assessment, Pre-Sales, Process Manufacturing, Product Demonstration, Product Management, Professional Services, Request for Proposals (RFP), Restaurant, Retail, Revenue Growth, Sales, Sales Management, Sales Qualification, Sales Support, Sales/Support Engineering (SE), Software Architecture, Software as a Service (SaaS), State Laws and Regulations, Supply Chain, Team Lead/Manager, Technical Leadership, Willing to Travel About the Company: Vaco LLC Vaco provides expert consulting, permanent placement, executive search and strategic staffing for companies around the world, in the areas of accounting, finance, technology, healthcare, operations, administration and more. As a premier talent solutions firm, Vaco connects people to their dream jobs and helps leading companies find talent to grow their business. Since its founding in 2002, Vaco has grown to more than 35 offices across the globe, 700+ employees, more than 3,000 consultants and $450M in revenue. Vaco has been named to Inc. magazine’s list of the fastest-growing private companies for past 11 years and is dedicated to developing long-term relationships, life-long careers and creative client solutions. Company Size: 2,500 to 4,999 employees Industry: Staffing/Employment Agencies Founded: 2002 Website: Apply tot his job