In Demand

Sales Engineers

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

Meet the Writer: O*NET Occupational Analysts

Annual Salary
$121,520/ year
Median wage · BLS🇺🇸 USA

What You'll Actually Do

The core tasks and responsibilities that fill a typical day.

  • Plan and modify product configurations to meet customer needs.
  • Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
  • Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.
  • 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.
  • Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers.
  • Research and identify potential customers 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.
  • Create sales or service contracts for products or services.
  • Arrange for demonstrations or trial installations of equipment.
  • Keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments.
  • Attend company training seminars to become familiar with product lines.
  • Develop sales plans to introduce products in new markets.
  • Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans.
  • Document account activities, generate reports, and keep records of business transactions with customers and suppliers.
  • Train team members in the customer applications of technologies.
  • Maintain sales forecasting reports.
  • Attend trade shows and seminars to promote products or to learn about industry developments.