Sales Engineer

Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Business Development Engineer; Inside Sales Engineer; Product Sales Engineer; Sales Applications Engineer; Sales Engineer; Technical Marketing Engineer; Technical Sales Engineer

Tasks

• Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
• Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.
• Create sales or service contracts for products or services.
• Visit prospective buyers at commercial, industrial, or other establishments to show samples or catalogs, and to inform them about product pricing, availability, and advantages.
• Keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments.
• Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans.
• Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
• Plan and modify product configurations to meet customer needs.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers.
• Recommend improved materials or machinery to customers, documenting how such changes will lower costs or increase production.
• Maintain sales forecasting reports.
• Document account activities, generate reports, and keep records of business transactions with customers and suppliers.
• Research and identify potential customers for products or services.
• Secure and renew orders and arrange delivery.
• Develop sales plans to introduce products in new markets.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Sales and Marketing
• Engineering and Technology
• English Language
• Mathematics
• Administration and Management
• Design
• Administrative

Skills

• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Mathematics
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Oral Expression
• Speech Clarity
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Speech Recognition
• Written Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Information Ordering
• Fluency of Ideas
• Category Flexibility
• Near Vision
• Originality
• Number Facility
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Memorization
• Speed of Closure