What Do Sales Engineers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Sales Engineers sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering. They also collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.

Other tasks include:

• Sell products requiring extensive technical expertise and support for installation and use, such as material handling equipment, numerical-control machinery, or computer systems.
• Plan and modify product configurations to meet customer needs.
• Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers.
• Arrange for demonstrations or trial installations of equipment.
• Create sales or service contracts for products or services.

We asked Sales Engineers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Sales Engineers keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments. They confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.

A typical day for a Sales Engineer will also include:

• Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.
• Sell products requiring extensive technical expertise and support for installation and use, such as material handling equipment, numerical-control machinery, or computer systems.
• Secure and renew orders and arrange delivery.
• Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
• Recommend improved materials or machinery to customers, documenting how such changes will lower costs or increase production.

We asked some Sales Engineers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	99% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	24% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	59% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	67% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	32% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Sales Engineers also maintain sales forecasting reports. They may also document account activities, generate reports, and keep records of business transactions with customers and suppliers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Sales Engineers Recommend improved materials or machinery to customers, documenting how such changes will lower costs or increase production. They might also Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.

In addition, they Write technical documentation for products.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans.

To some Sales Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Provide technical and non-technical support and services to clients or other staff members regarding the use, operation, and maintenance of equipment.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Sales Engineer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/sales/sales-engineers.htm

http://www.manaonline.org/

http://www.mrerf.org/